HUA Ministry Prioritizes Metro Expansion and Affordable Housing in 2024.

In 2024, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) has placed a strong emphasis on expanding metro rail networks, enhancing affordable housing, and advancing smart city initiatives across India. Key highlights of the ministry’s progress include the installation of over 84,000 CCTV cameras, development of 713 km of cycle tracks, and the construction of 88 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY-U).

The ministry also spearheaded several projects under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM), Swachh Bharat Mission, and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). As of November 15, 13 out of 100 smart cities completed their projects, while 48 cities saw over 90% completion. Notably, the implementation of 714 ongoing projects, valued at Rs 17,303 crore, continues to make significant strides.

Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, reported that by mid-November, work orders were issued for 8,066 projects worth Rs 1,64,669 crore, with 91% of these projects already completed. The ministry has also enhanced urban water management systems, with 17,026 km of water supply networks now monitored via the SCADA system.

Further bolstering urban development, over 9,400 smart classrooms, 41 digital libraries, 172 e-health centers, and 152 health ATMs have been established across the nation. Additionally, technology is being leveraged in more than 66 cities to improve solid waste management, while large-scale clean-up initiatives, like the remediation of legacy waste sites in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, are being undertaken under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The ministry’s continued push for urban infrastructure development is also reflected in metro rail expansion. India’s metro network has expanded significantly from 248 km in 2014 to 993 km operational in 23 cities today, with another 997 km under construction. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, highlighted that India is on track to become home to the second-largest metro network in the world. The Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor is also set to see further expansion by June 2025.

Additionally, the PM-e-Bus Sewa initiative, aimed at enhancing urban bus services, includes Rs 20,000 crore for the deployment of 10,000 electric buses in cities. Under PMAY-U, over 88 lakh houses have been completed, with more than 1.18 crore houses sanctioned since 2015.

In a bid to further address urban housing needs, the government launched PMAY-U 2.0, with a goal to build 10 million affordable homes through four key schemes. The revamped National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) is set to benefit 2.5 crore urban poor households, with over 1 crore women mobilized into self-help groups.

The HUA’s efforts in 2024 are shaping a more connected, sustainable, and affordable urban India, with smart city solutions and enhanced housing opportunities taking center stage in the government’s ambitious agenda.

BS