Uttar Pradesh

• 20 Feb 2023

Chief Minister Road Improvement Scheme

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on February 19, 2023, the Uttar Pradesh government about to launch 'Chief Minister Road Improvement Scheme' to provide better road facilities to the people in cities.

Key Points

• A provision of Rs 1000 crore is being made for the 'Chief Minister Road Improvement Scheme' in the financial year 2023-24. Apart from this, additional money will also be given to the bodies collecting more house tax.
• At present, there are 17 municipal corporations, 200 municipal councils and 545 Nagar Panchayats in the state, out of which 239 are new and border-expanding bodies.
• The responsibility of creating colonies as well as some routes in cities lies with the bodies. The bodies receive money from road improvement plans and central and state finance commissions, but do not have additional funds. That is why the Urban Development Department wants to create a separate item called 'Chief Minister Road Improvement Scheme', so that road facilities can be provided to the people in the cities on the basis of need.
• After getting consent from the higher level, the Urban Development Department has sent a proposal to make provisions for this in the new budget. It has been argued in the proposal that urban roads present the development scenario of the state.
• Pothole-free roads are also among the priorities of the state government and providing road facilities along drains for overall development in better performing bodies with a population of more than one lakh on the basis of delivery of civic amenities etc. Therefore, 'Chief Minister Road Improvement Scheme' will be started in cities with population of more than one lakh.
• Apart from this, additional money will be given in this scheme to promote house tax collection in the bodies. For example, 50 per cent of the house tax charged by the civic body will be paid. The Urban Development Department believes that this will increase the competition for house tax collection in the bodies and increase income.