Faster single-window clearances for urban projects by Nov-end

NEW DELHI: The Centre will put in place a “single-window” clearance mechanism by month-end to facilitate faster and easier approvals for urban development projects, urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Wednesday.

“By November 30, we will be bringing out a notification on easy approvals (for urban development projects) ... a single-window clearance is also in the offing,” Naidu said at the National Strategy Day in India summit organised by the World Economic Forum and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). “I am going to allow urban development bodies to use the money given by me as seed capital so that they can get finance from banks.”

The government was willing to address “all the hurdles” plaguing the sector and it would take all steps to ensure that there are no delays in approvals, he said, adding, discussions on the issue have already been held with other ministries including environment, civil aviation, defence, consumer affairs and culture.

Naidu also said there are plans to come out with city-wise special purpose vehicles for each project — an idea that was mooted considering the difficulties faced by public private partnership projects.

The government aims to provide ‘housing for all’ by 2022 and has kicked of the process for setting up 100 smart cities.

All measures are being taken to sensitise urban development bodies in relation to clearances, transparency and accountability, Naidu said.

The government is willing to address all the hurdles plaguing urban development and will take all steps to ensure that there are no delays in approvals M VENKAIAH NAIDU, urban development minister