Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday launched a new housing scheme for the urban poor named after the founder of Bahujan Samaj Party and her mentor, Kanshi Ram. The launch coincides with the formation of the first BSP-led Government in Uttar Pradesh on June 3, 1995. The scheme replaces the Kanshi Ram Urban Integrated Development Scheme, which was launched by the Chief Minister on June 3, 2007. Ms. Mayawati said the decision to recast the old scheme was taken following its tardy progress on account of political interference and non-cooperation of some local bodies.

The Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has suggested the Maharashtra government to extend the proposed metro line from Ghatkopar to Andheri to it's international terminal. MIAL, the private organisation managing the city's airport, has suggested the idea to the state government at a national facilitation meeting recently. "MIAL has asked for the extended metro link to both the terminals of the airport. The state government will discuss the matter and then take decision on it," Secretary (Special Projects) Sanjay Ubale said.

JAMMU : Pradesh Janta Dal (Secular) expressed concern over the pending work of Bhadarwah-Chamba road despite the release of Rs 80 crores by the central government. As per a press release, its acting president Mast Nath Yogi alleged that since the announcement of the start of work on the said road, nothing so far has been done on the projects including the work on the Basholi road which is almost complete.

In a big relief to non-profit making organisations facing closure threat, the government is likely to allow NGOs to operate from residential localities on mixed land use streets by amending Delhi's Master Plan-2021. Also, NGOs which existed on the date of notification of Master Plan-2021 will be permitted to function from all localities, including posh A & B colonies. Several NGOs operating from south Delhi localities like Hauz Khas, Vasant Kunj, Malviya Nagar and Greater Kailash, whose offices were sealed by the MCD recently, are likely to get relief.

THE government has set up a highpowered expert committee to estimate investment requirements for urban infrastructure in India for the next 12 years. The 11-member expert committee will be chaired by Isher Judge Ahluwalia, chairperson of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).

Mouparna Bandyopadhyay Development runs deep

The Delhi Urban Arts Commission was reconstituted on Friday, ending a long tug-of-war between the city government and the heritage watchdog. The urban development ministry notified the new panel which has K T Ravindran as the chairperson and Mohammad Shaheer, Nayanjot Lahiri and Ratish Nanda as its members, putting an end to speculation about the reconstitution of powerful commission, which approves all projects in the Capital keeping in view the aesthetic and environmental designs.

Whether the ruling dispensation listens or not, the advise to the government on Goa's Statehood Day from the historic Maidan is simple

The failure of elected representatives of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation to make the maximum of the ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission plan of the Central Government stands as a glaring example of negligence of public work. Though the JNNURM has provisions for Community Participation Fund (CPF) facilitating many benefiting projects for the common people, very little has been done by the councillors, always crying for funds to carry public work, to tap the existing resources under the mission.