Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission-

JNNURM was launched by the UPA government in 2005. It was the first concerted effort to make a difference to the urban chaos.  It followed top- down approach, hence all the plans were decided by central government. There was lack of involvement in and ownership by local and state governments. During the10 year period of JNNURM only 43 % of projects were completed. Since states were not approached for advice, its plans were imposed on states. It followed “One Size fits all approach”.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation-

AMRUT was launched by present government in 2014 to bring forward state centric governance. States are asked to make their own plans for development and forward it to center. Citizen participation in urban planning and project prioritization are now made mandatory. It involves local level decentralization and municipal bodies take due part in development process. Hence it follows a bottom-up approach. The focus has shifted from a project-based approach to area-based outcomes.

Is AMRUT improvement over JNNURM?

JNNUM was the first initiative in reforming the bad condition of Indian cities. JNNURM helped in building urban infrastructure facilities like public transport, urban housing etc and absorbing the inward migration towards cities. It made beginning to the planned development of cities at all India level. Despite its initial thrust it suffered many limitations and could achieve its intended targets. Its comparison with AMRUT shows – 

• Speedy Clearance – 86 % of the project have already been funded within 2.5 years of its commencement (Compared to JNNURM 43%).
• State and Citizen Centric Development – as states and muncipal bodies are being involved. It was not the case in JNNURM.
• Municipal Credit Ratings – Municipal Bodies are implementing reforms to improve their credit rating and get credit for speedy development. Municipal bodies of cities like Pune and Ahmedabad are issuing municipal bonds.
• There has been bias in Financial Allocations towards Infrastructure Development, and towards Large Cities and States under JNNURM. This has been reformed in AMRUT and every state is getting fund share proportional to its need.
• Under JNNURM focus was on Financial and Physical Targets and ‘Awards’ without adequate attention to performance evaluation.
• There was lack of public participation in the process and implementation of JNNURM. This has been rectified in AMRUT and bottom-up approach has been adopted.

Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) there is a comprehensive assessment of infrastructure deficit before drawing up city-level action plans. Cities have been empowered to add to their technical capabilities. And now there is clear evidence that cities are rising to the occasion by rediscovering themselves. Ministry of Urban Development has started approving investments for the next three financial years under AMRUT during current year itself thereby expediting the process of project approval.

Release of funds is linked to progress of mandated governance reforms under all new urban missions including the housing mission. Online integrated single-window clearance for construction permits is being put in place to improve ease of doing business. Cities are now looking at public-private partnership and value capture financing with a changed mindset.

Conclusion-

Thus considering the process, implementation strategies and initial outcomes, AMRUT seems to be scoring over JNNURM. At the same time AMRUT has benefitted from the lessons of JNNURM and hence it should be seen as logical step over JNNURM rather than parameters of progress of two governments.