UP Govt to make ULBs self-reliant in their income
09 Jul 2024 CW Team
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government, under Chief Minister Adityanath's leadership, aims to empower local bodies and increase their revenue streams. The initiative seeks to strengthen all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) through substantial investments in infrastructure and services. This transformation is intended to enable ULBs to significantly contribute to the state's goal of achieving a $1 trillion economy.
According to a government spokesperson, this effort will enhance the income of municipal corporations, municipalities, and nagar panchayats. ULBs will select 38 projects in phases, focusing on administrative and utility infrastructure such as office buildings, urban kiosks, mechanised and other types of parking, and road junctions.
Additionally, the plan includes economic infrastructure like co-working spaces, urban fairs, street food hubs, and digital streets, as well as heritage and cultural investments in heritage streets, conservation projects, museums, exhibition spaces, galleries, urban art, and statues.
Social amenities such as urban community centres, marriage halls, retirement homes, senior care centres, hostels, auditoriums, and urban cafes will also be integrated. Public health infrastructure investments will cover pet clinics, parks, open gyms, and multipurpose sports facilities.
Furthermore, environmental enhancements will feature urban wetlands, forests, nurseries, and horticulture projects. The allocation of funds for infrastructure investments will be based on the tax revenues collected by the ULB and its contributions. Projects will be selected based on guidelines, with the size of the ULB playing a significant role.
Priority will be given to projects that can potentially involve Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). The ULBs will provide the necessary land for these infrastructure projects, while funding will be sourced from ULB revenues or through PPP arrangements.