Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, completed a decade in 2025. Over this period, AMRUT has aimed to improve basic urban infrastructure in India, focusing on sectors like water supply, sewerage management, stormwater drainage, green spaces, and non-motorized urban transport.

Key Features of AMRUT

• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme

• Launch: Initially launched for 500 selected cities to enhance basic infrastructure.

• Primary Sectors:

  • Water Supply

  • Sewerage & Septage Management

  • Stormwater Drainage

  • Green Spaces & Parks

  • Non-Motorized Urban Transport (though this component was later excluded in AMRUT 2.0)

AMRUT 2.0

In 2021, AMRUT evolved into AMRUT 2.0, with a more targeted approach:

• Focus Areas:

  • Water and Sewerage: Specifically targeting the provision of tap water to all households in statutory towns and improving sewerage management.

  • Exclusions: The urban transport component was removed in AMRUT 2.0.

• Key Components of AMRUT 2.0:

  • Pey Jal Survekshan: A challenge-based assessment to evaluate water supply service levels, reuse, sewerage, and water conservation.

  • Behaviour Change Communication: Promoting water conservation and improving water use efficiency.

  • Technology Sub-Mission: Encouraging start-up innovation and private entrepreneurship through expert-reviewed pilot projects.

• Other Features:

  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Mandatory in cities with a population of over 1 million.

  • Outcome-Based Funding: Cities must meet targets to access funding.

  • Community Participation: Special focus on women's self-help groups.

  • Circular Water Economy: Focus on recycling and reusing treated sewage, water body rejuvenation, and water conservation.

• Monitoring Mechanism:

  • National Level: Apex Committee chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

  • State Level: State High Powered Steering Committee (SHPSC) chaired by the Chief Secretary of the State.

Key Achievements Under AMRUT

1. Water and Sewer Connections:

   • 2.03 crore tap connections and 1.50 crore sewer connections were provided to households across cities under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0.

2. LED Streetlights:

   • 99 lakh LED streetlights were installed, leading to a savings of 666 crore kWh in power consumption and a reduction of 46 lakh tonnes of CO? annually.

3. Green Spaces and Parks:

   • Over 6,800 acres of green space were developed.

   • Nearly 3,000 parks were created, contributing to environmental sustainability and improving the urban quality of life.

Limitations and Challenges in Implementation

While AMRUT has delivered several important infrastructure improvements, there are notable challenges that have hindered its full potential:

1. Inadequate Health Outcomes:

   • Despite the focus on water and sanitation, India still faces severe issues with waterborne diseases, poor sanitation, and hygiene practices, leading to an estimated 200,000 deaths annually.

2. Environmental Concerns Unaddressed:

   • AMRUT’s focus on reducing air pollution did not address the worsening air quality in many urban centers, prompting the launch of the National Clean Air Programme in 2019.

3. Implementation Delays:

   • Some states, particularly Bihar and Assam, have faced delays in project completion and have not fully utilized the PPP model, even though funds have been released regularly.

4. Limited Coverage and Scope:

   • Initially, AMRUT covered only 500 cities, leaving out many smaller towns that still lack basic infrastructure. This limited coverage has left numerous areas behind in terms of urban development.

5. Overlap with Other Schemes:

   • AMRUT overlaps with other flagship schemes like Smart Cities and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, leading to fragmented funding and potential duplication of efforts.

Way Forward

To ensure AMRUT continues to contribute effectively to urban transformation, several improvements and new approaches should be considered:

1. Holistic, People-Centric Approach:

   • Future planning should integrate people-centric development, focusing not just on infrastructure but also on community empowerment and inclusive urban growth.

2. Urban Local Body (ULB) Capacity Building:

   • To improve governance, there should be a stronger focus on capacity building for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), equipping them with the skills and tools to manage projects more effectively.

3. Expansion to Smaller Towns:

   • To address regional disparities, the scope of AMRUT should be expanded to include smaller towns, addressing the infrastructure needs of non-500 cities.

4. Climate-Resilient and Nature-Based Solutions:

   • Incorporating climate-resilient and nature-based solutions is crucial to ensure that urban growth is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Solutions like rainwater harvesting, green roofs, and urban wetlands could be integrated into the future phases of AMRUT.

5. Enhanced Monitoring and Accountability:

   • Strengthening the monitoring mechanisms at both national and state levels will help ensure that projects are completed on time and that funds are used efficiently.

Conclusion

As AMRUT marks its decade-long journey, it is clear that while significant strides have been made in improving urban infrastructure, challenges remain. The focus going forward should be on a holistic, sustainable, and inclusive approach to urban development. Governance reforms, better coordination between schemes, and the expansion of coverage to smaller towns will be crucial to realizing the full potential of the scheme.