Union govt nod for AMRUT second phase; 300 projects in 93 cities worth Rs 2,500 cr in Kerala

Alappuzha: The union government has given sanction for works worth Rs 2,500 cr in the second phase of AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) projects in Kerala.

The projects were awarded to 93 cities in the state. As many as 300 projects in areas like rejuvenation of water resources, construction of parks and production units of self-help groups will get financial support under AMRUT 2.0.

The state government bears 50 per cent of the expenditure.

The first phase included only six municipal corporations - Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur- and three municipalities - Palakkad, Guruvayur and Alappuzha.

Kerala had submitted proposals for projects worth Rs 3,600 cr for the second phase. Deputy MD of the Kerala wing of the project MK Vijayakumar said he hopes the rest of the projects also would get approval soon.

In the first phase, projects like water supply, wastewater treatment, sewage water treatment, overbridges, and footpaths were approved. Among these, most of the projects in all categories except sewage water treatment were implemented.

The first phase, started in 2015, was initially for a period of five years. It was delayed by Covid-19 and other challenges. The deadline for completion of projects is in March 2023.