NEW DELHI, May 17: Cities are the drivers of economic growth and all sections of people living in the cities need to be provided with adequate housing and other essential amenities, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday.
He was addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for the World Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar and redevelopment of Netaji Nagar General Pool Residential Accommodation Colony here in the presence of Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs (I/C) Hardeep Singh Puri and other dignitaries.
Besides providing housing to all citizens, there was a need to create good infrastructure to cater to the needs of the burgeoning population.
”We must also ensure that the development is sustainable by protecting our environment and resources,” he added.
Mr Naidu confessed that it was personally a matter of pride and satisfaction for him to be a part of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the projects which were conceptualised and took shape when he was the Housing and Urban Affairs Minister.
He stressed the need to build green buildings and promote energy efficient and smart mobility solutions for optimum utilisation of scarce resources and spaces, adding, ”there is also a need to promote the concept of green and energy efficient buildings in a big way and create greater awareness among the citizens.”
The Vice-President said the projects initiated today were aimed at providing better quality of life to citizens and spur economic growth.
He noted that India was witnessing urban renaissance following the launch of Smart Cities Mission, and said that apart from improving quality of life, Smart Cities also sought to provide clean and sustainable environment, an official release here said.
Mr Naidu congratulated NBCC, the implementing agency for redevelopment of Sarojini Nagar, Nauroji Nagar and Netaji Nagar, and CPWD, which is the implementing agency for redevelopment of Kasturba Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar, Sriniwaspuri and Mohammadpur.
The redevelopment of seven GPRA colonies in Delhi is being done at an estimated cost of Rs 32,835 crore which includes operation and maintenance cost for 30 years.
Redevelopment envisages integration of the infrastructure of the surrounding areas. The project will be financed through sale of Commercial Built-up Area and incorporate smart city features including in-house Solid/Liquid Waste Management facility, Rain Water Harvesting, Solar Energy and Green Building norms. (UNI)
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