India is a developing country with the potential to grow at a faster pace. It needs to develop in all aspects, such as the commercial industry, to improve the lives of common people, along with their residential facilities. The Indian state and central governments launch numerous schemes to enforce growth, including Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for cities and small towns.
Read this blog to understand how the AMRUT scheme supports urban infrastructure development and its achievements.
What is AMRUT?
AMRUT is a scheme launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in June 2015 under the Ministry of Urban Development. The scheme focuses on urban renewal projects to establish infrastructure that ensures sufficient, strong sewerage networks and water supply for urban transformation. The scheme is dependent on the public-private partnership model (PPP).
The purpose of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is to
- Ensure that all households have tap access with an assured supply of water and a sewerage connection. Proper sewerage systems, septage management, and stormwater drains help reduce flooding risks.
- Increase the cities’ amenity value by developing greenery and properly maintained open spaces (like parks)
- Minimise pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorised transport, like walking and cycling.
AMRUT 1.0 vs AMRUT 2.0
In India, this scheme’s mission is executed in two stages, named AMRUT 1.0 and AMRUT 2.0. The following are their focus areas, along with coverage:
AMRUT 1.0 (2015–2021)
AMRUT 1.0 came into play in 2015. Its features are as follows:
- From 2015 to 2021, it covered about 500 cities and towns, mainly those with a population of more than 100,000.
- The scheme’s main focus was on water supply, sewerage, and stormwater drainage facilities, along with the promotion of green spaces (like parks) and integrated urban planning.
- AMRUT introduced Service Level Benchmarks (SLBs) to measure urban service performance.
AMRUT 2.0 (2021–2026)
AMRUT 1.0 came into play in 2021. The scheme has extended its coverage to develop water-secure cities in the spirit of AatmaNirbhar Bharat. The progress is as follows:
- It aims to supply reliable new water tap connections to around 4,800 statutory towns with real-time tracking via SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition), IoT sensors and dashboards.
- It aims to achieve universal household coverage of sewerage/septage services in 500 AMRUT cities through new sewer connections.
- Total indicative outlay for AMRUT 2.0 is about ₹2.99 lakh crore, with the remaining amount allocated over five years. The total indicative central share is ₹86,760 crore, including ₹10,000 crore for AMRUT projects.
- Inclusion of GIS mapping for the creation of master plans of the cities & efficient town planning.
- It focuses on raising funds through the issuance of municipal bonds and the rejuvenation of water bodies, with a focus on financially self-sustainable urban infrastructure supported by measures like user charges and reforms that improve ease of living.
Key Components of AMRUT
When you observe the AMRUT scheme from a civil engineering and real estate point of view, the following are the mission components behind it:
Water Supply
- Water supply systems include the augmentation of existing water supply, water treatment plants, and universal metering.
- Revival of old water supply systems, along with treatment plants.
- Renewal of water bodies specifically for drinking purposes and recharging of groundwater.
- Special water supply arrangements are necessary for challenging areas, including hill and coastal cities, as well as those with water quality issues such as arsenic and fluoride contamination.
Sewerage System
- Decentralised, networked underground sewerage systems, along with the augmentation of old sewerage systems and sewage treatment plants.
- Rehabilitation of old sewerage systems and treatment plants.
- Recycling of wastewater for reuse.
Septage Management
- Clean, transport, and treat faecal sludge in a cost-effective way.
- Use mechanical and biological methods to clean sewers and septic tanks.
- Recover the full operational cost of these services.
Storm Water Drainage
Construction and betterment of drains and stormwater drains to prevent and minimise flooding.
Urban Transport
- Ferry vessels for inland waterways (aside from port/bay infrastructure) and buses.
- Footpaths/walkways, sidewalks, foot over-bridges and facilities for non-motorised transport (e.g. bicycles).
- Multi-level parking.
- Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).
Green Space and Parks
Promoting green spaces and parks with special child-friendly facilities ensures safe and enjoyable areas for children.
Capacity Building
- This has two main components: individual and institutional capacity building.
- The programme will cover not only Mission Cities but also other Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
- The existing Comprehensive Capacity Building Programme (CCBP) will continue, realigned to support the new Missions.
Achievements of the AMRUT Scheme
The following are the major achievements from the AMRUT scheme:
Achievements of AMRUT 1.0
- Around 189 lakhs tap water connections for households were provided under AMRUT 1.0.
- About 1.49 crore (1.49 lakhs) sewer connections provided (against the target of 1.45 lakh)
- About 2,994 parks were created and 6,869 acres of green space were developed across the country as part of urban green space improvement.
- More than 100 cities issued municipal bonds. Municipal bond issuance under AMRUT has been supported and promoted, with multiple towns actively raising significant funds.
Achievements of AMRUT 2.0 (Progress so far)
- AMRUT 2.0 focuses on providing universal household water supply coverage by 2026. The approved project components involve—
- 3,568 water supply projects worth ₹1,14,220.62 crore.
- 181 lakh new tap connections.
- 10,647 MLD Water Treatment Plant (WTP) capacity.
- 1,487 water supply projects with SCADA technology.
- The mission focused on promoting the recycling of grey water, or wastewater and reusing treated water for industrial and agricultural uses. The approved project components involve—
- 592 sewerage/septage management projects worth ₹67,607.67 crore (includes O&M cost).
- 67.11 lakh new sewer connections.
- 6,739 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) capacity.
- 235 sewerage projects with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technology.
- Technology Sub-Mission aims to promote start-up ideas and private entrepreneurship.
- As of now, 120 start-ups have been shortlisted, and 82 AMRUT cities have been mapped for pilot projects under AMRUT 2.0.
Challenges in the Implementation of the AMRUT Scheme
Although the AMRUT scheme is trying to transform the nation by improving urban living standards, the following are the major pain points that need to be addressed:
- Non-Inclusive Governance Structure: Since AMRUT is a mechanically designed scheme without organic participation from elected city governments, it can be a less inclusive scheme for urban people.
- Overlap with Other Schemes: AMRUT has a higher potential to overlap with Smart Cities and Swachh Bharat Missions, causing fragmented funding and duplication of efforts.
- Land Acquisition Issues: The government needs to acquire new land for sewage treatment plants and drainage projects. Delays in here can be a common barrier, affecting project execution time across several states.
- Technical Capacity: A shortage of skilled urban planners, engineers, and other professionals in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities hampers effective planning, project design, and implementation under AMRUT.
- Climate Change Risks: The increasing frequency of urban floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events necessitates more resilient and adaptive infrastructure, which AMRUT must address more effectively through climate-smart urban planning and nature-based solutions.
Role of AMRUT in Real Estate and Commercial Growth
- Boost to Real Estate Values: Areas with assured water supply and sanitation see higher property demand and capital appreciation.
- Commercial Property Growth: Improved urban infrastructure attracts retail, office spaces, and industrial investments.
- Smart Cities Synergy: AMRUT works along with the Smart Cities Mission, creating sustainable ecosystems for IT hubs, SEZs, and logistics parks.
- Improved Living Style: Better infrastructure can reduce the stressful lifestyle considerably, promoting urban productivity.
Future Roadmap
By 2026, AMRUT 2.0 aims to:
- Achieve 100% tap water connections in urban households.
- Provide 100% coverage of sewerage and septage management.
- Ensure recycling of 50% of wastewater.
- Develop over 5,000 green spaces across cities.
- Make cities financially resilient with sustainable revenue models.
Conclusion
The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) aims to improve urban living standards by providing essential civic amenities such as water supply, sewerage systems, stormwater drainage, green spaces, and facilities for non-motorised urban transport. You can directly consider it as a blueprint for India’s sustainable urban future. The mission ensures that cities grow as centers of economic progress while staying livable and resilient.
For investors, developers, and city planners, the AMRUT scheme offers a new era where urban infrastructure is no longer just a government responsibility but a collaborative mission including citizens, private stakeholders, and municipalities.