High-level panel on urban policies: Centre

Context: Recently, Finance Minister has announced plans to set up a high-level committee of planners, economists and institutions to provide recommendations on issues and policies related to the urban sector.
Need

• By 2047, nearly half of India’s population is likely to be living in urban areas.
• To prepare for this, orderly urban development is of critical importance, as the “business as usual” approach towards urban planning would not work.
• But for orderly urban development, we need to nurture the megacities and their hinterlands to become current centres of economic growth. Further, we need to facilitate tier 2 and 3 cities to take on the mantle in the future. 
• Hence, for this purpose, the Government has set up a High Level panel comprising urban planners, urban economists and institutions who will make recommendations on policies, capacity-building, planning, implementation and governance.

What are the other steps announced in the Budget for Urban Areas?

• Firstly, the government will designate five institutions as centres of excellence to develop India-specific knowledge in urban planning and design and to deliver certified training in these areas. These centres will be provided funds of Rs 250 crore each. 
• Secondly, the government has announced ‘MetroLite’ and ‘MetroNeo’ technologies to provide metro rail systems at much lesser cost with similar experience in Tier-2 cities and peripheral areas of Tier-1 cities.
• Thirdly, the government will work with the state governments for reduction of time for land and construction approvals and promote affordable housing.