Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

The main objectives of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation are:

1. Reshaping and overhaul of selected cities and towns at an infrastructural level, with special focus on healthy and green environment for children.
2. Reform implementation
3. Providing a constant supply of clean drinking water
4. Improvement and enhancement of the sewerage network
5. Development and management of septage
6. Raise the level of public transport service
7. Installation of storm water drains
8. Creation of environment friendly and green public spaces, such as parks
9. Creation of healthy open spaces for children

Selection Criteria for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation

The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) will select 500 cities and towns based on certain criteria.

The category of cities that will be covered under the mission are:

1. All cities and towns with a population of over one lakh with notified Municipalities, including Cantonment Boards (Civilian areas)
2. All capital cities/towns of states/ UTs, not covered in the above mentioned category
3. All cities/ towns classified as heritage hities by the Ministry of Urban Development, under the HRIDAY Scheme
4. Thirteen cities and towns on the stem of the main rivers with a population above 75,000 and less than 1 lakh
5. Ten Cities from hill states, islands and tourist destinations (not more than one from each State).

Guidelines will be laid out by the centre regarding which states will be able to recommend cities that they seek to bring under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.

Difference between Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation and Smart Cities Mission

While the two projects are interdependent on each other, there are some general differences between the two with regards to their scope and range of influence:

1. The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) has a wider reach in terms of the number of cities covered and will be focusing on 500 select cities and towns while the Smart Cities Mission will focus on the developments of 100 select Smart Cities.
2. While the Smart Cities Mission will support each selected city with 100 crores per year for a period of five years, the funds available for each city under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation will be proportionately less due to the large number of cities covered.
3. The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation will focus mainly on transformation and overhaul of the infrastructural framework of the cities and towns under its purview, while the Smart Cities Mission will aim at working towards improving and enhancing the current, existing basic infrastructures in the cities it has chosen.

Fund allocation for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation

The total outlay of funds allocated for the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation is Rs 50,000 core for a period of five years from the financial year 2015-16 to 2019-20.

The mission will be operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the mission funds will consist of the following components:

1. Project fund - 80% of the annual budgetary allocation
2. Incentive for Reforms - 10% of the annual budgetary allocation
3. State funds for Administrative & Office Expenses - 8% of the annual budgetary allocation
4. Ministry of Urban Development funds for Administrative & Office Expenses - 2% of the annual budgetary allocation

For the financial year 2015-16, the project funds allocated would be 90% of the annual budgetary allocation since incentives for reforms will be distributed only from 2016-17 onwards.