India launches $40 billion urban infra program

India has launched the second stage of its flagship urban infrastructure programme, known as AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation), which is aimed at extending the water and wastewater infrastructure works originally started in 2015.

AMRUT 2.0, announced earlier in the union budget this year, involves an outlay of INR2.97 trillion ($39.6 billion) between now and 2023, and aims to expand support outside major cities to 4,372 towns across India. A target of 100% household piped water supply is planned for all the new areas, while 100% sewerage and septage management is planned for 500 of the towns.

The programme aims to support integrated water and wastewater management, and includes holistic “city water balance plans”, urban water information systems, non-revenue water reduction, treated wastewater reuse, and the rejuvenation of water bodies.