The UPA’s flagship programme, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), launched in 2005 has been described as a “failure” by none other than a high-level government panel headed by Planning Commission member Arun Maira.

The panel has criticised this `66,000 crores urban renewal programme which was supposed to improve water supply and sanitation and upgrade urban infrastructure across 63 cities of India.