(a) whether the Government proposes to develop satellite towns which would be self-contained, limited in size and built in the vicinity of metros in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the cities that would be covered under the above project, city-wise; and
(d) the details and the action plan to develop metro infrastructure in rural areas to address population congestion in the metro cities of the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SAUGATA ROY)
(a): The Ministry of Urban Development is running a pilot scheme for Infrastructure Development in satellite town around seven mega-cities.
(b): The pilot scheme supports development of infrastructure facilities related to Solid Waste Management, Water Supply and Sewerage in the selected towns to channelize their future growth and ameliorate pressure on mega-cities. It also provides for implementation of reforms such as e-governance, property tax, double entry accounting, creation of barrier free built environment and energy & water audit.
(c): The eight satellite towns identified for implementation of the scheme are Vikarabad (Andhra Pradesh), Sanand (Gujarat), Sonipat (Haryana), Kankapura (Karnataka), Vasai-Virar (Maharashtra), Sriperumbudur (Tamilnadu), Pilkhua (Uttar Pradesh) and New Town (West Bengal).
(d): The Ministry of Urban Development does not undertake development of infrastructure in rural areas, hence, there is no such action plan.