Parliament Question: Data and methodology for infrastructure expansion

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3426 ANSWERED ON 23/03/2026 DATA AND METHODOLOGY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION 3426. SHRI VIVEK K. TANKHA: Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether any study has been done to find out stressed public infrastructure in the country, if so, the details thereof; (b) the steps taken towards doing a baseline study of the existing public infrastructure in the country as against the population load, if so, the details thereof; (c) in the absence of such studies, the basis on which the future infrastructure development plans would be made, details of the process, data points examined and scientific studies undertaken while making future expansion plans of public infrastructure; and (d) whether any mechanism of social audit exists, if so, the details thereof, whether Government would consider such a proposal? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU) (a) to (d): As per the provisions of Article 243W of the Constitution, in conjunction with the Seventh and Twelfth Schedules, matters relating to urban development fall within the purview of States/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). However, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) provides programmatic support to the States/Union Territories (UTs) in their urban development agenda through its various flagship Missions/Programmes viz. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0), Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0 (SBM – U 2.0), Smart Cities Mission (SCM), etc. Through these Missions/Schemes, the Central Government approves the State Plans and provides the Central Assistance to the States. The projects are selected, designed, approved and executed by the States/UTs and the cities. The State Governments release funds to the cities/districts. AMRUT 2.0: The Mission has been launched in the year 2021 in all ULBs/ cities, enabling the cities to become 'self-reliant' and 'water secure'. Providing universal coverage of sewerage and septage management in 500 AMRUT cities is one of the major focus areas of AMRUT 2.0. Water body rejuvenation and green spaces and parks are other components of the Mission. Under the Mission, States/ UTs are empowered to select, appraise, prioritize and implement projects. Under AMRUT 2.0, cities have prepared City Water Balance Plans (CWBPs), which include as-is assessment of water supply systems which help cities/ ULBs to identify gaps. CWBPs help cities to identify scope for projects focusing on the objectives of Mission. Based on the projects identified in CWBPs, the City Water Action Plans (CWAPs) are devised. These CWAPs are aggregated in the form of State Water Action Plans (SWAPs). Further, the State High Powered Steering Committee (SHPSC) headed by the Chief Secretary of the State, considers and recommends/ approves the SWAPs under AMRUT 2.0. State Level Technical Committee (SLTC) headed by the Secretary, Urban Development & Housing Department provides technical support to the SHPSC in approving, monitoring and supervising the scheme at the State level. SBM-U: Sanitation is a State subject. It is the responsibility of States/ULBs to plan, identify structural and infrastructural gap, design and execute sanitation projects in the urban areas of the concerned States/UTs. MoHUA supplements the efforts of States/UTs by providing policy directions, financial and technical support. Under SBM-U, funds are released by Government of India to the States/UTs on the basis of action plan duly approved by State Level Technical Committee (SLTC) submitted by States/UTs. *****