Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal said India’s urban growth must focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation. He noted that by 2047, nearly 50% of Indians will live in cities, making collaboration between government, private players, and individuals essential for building a Viksit Bharat.
Speaking at the National Urban Conclave 2025 in Delhi, the minister launched three key initiatives — Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP), Urban Invest Window (UiWIN), and Knowledge Management Unit (KMU) — to make cities cleaner and more liveable. DRAP will reclaim urban land and target “Lakshya Zero Dumpsites” by September 2026, focusing on 214 sites with 8.8 crore MT of waste.
The central government is offering ₹550 per tonne for legacy waste remediation. KMU, under the Swachh Bharat Mission, will serve as a national hub for capacity building and knowledge sharing through the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
UiWIN, launched under HUDCO and guided by MoHUA, will attract private investments and provide cities access to concessional financing from global institutions like the World Bank and ADB, promoting PPP-based sustainable urban infrastructure.
