- Principal Secretary of the Urban Administration Department addresses a capacity-building workshop organized by HUDCO in New Delhi
- Met with the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and HUDCO officials; discussed the effective implementation of central schemes and future strategies for Chhattisgarh
Shri Sonmoni Borah, Principal Secretary of the Urban Administration and Development Department, addressed a capacity-building workshop on the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) organized by HUDCO in New Delhi. Addressing participants from various states and urban local bodies, he emphasized that the long-term development of cities requires better planning, capacity building, effective utilization of financial resources, and improved coordination among various schemes. He laid special emphasis on superior planning, institutional capacity building, and the effective use of available financial resources, keeping in mind the future needs and challenges of cities.
Principal Secretary Shri Borah met Shri Satendra Singh, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in New Delhi. They discussed the progress, effective implementation, and future strategies regarding schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT Mission, PM SVANidhi, PM e-Bus, and the Urban Challenge Fund within the state. They also deliberated on measures to achieve the targets of these schemes and further strengthen the capabilities of urban local bodies.
Shri Borah held a meeting with HUDCO Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Shri Sanjay Kulshrestha and his team, engaging in a detailed discussion on strategies for the holistic and need-based development of the state’s urban local bodies. The meeting placed special emphasis on formulating long-term development plans that take into account the local needs, potential, and unique identity of the state’s urban local bodies. Discussions were also held on formulating development strategies tailored to the specific nature and characteristics of cities of industrial, religious, spiritual, tourism, cultural, and historical significance, ensuring that the expansion of urban services and infrastructure aligns with local needs.
The meeting deliberated on the possibility of incorporating various development aspects—such as food parks, rental housing, tourism promotion, slum redevelopment, and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)—into the cities’ development plans, based on their specific requirements. Furthermore, discussions focused on studying best practices, implementation experiences, and challenges from other states in order to adopt suitable elements aligned with the state’s needs and to incorporate necessary provisions into state policies.
During the meeting, the CMD of HUDCO agreed to facilitate the preparation of Preliminary Project Reports (PPRs) and to conduct state-level workshops aimed at capacity building for officials and staff in state and urban local bodies, specifically for the identification and documentation of projects. He also assured support in providing the necessary technical guidance and financial resources for urban projects. Additionally, the meeting explored ways to optimize the use of various financial sources for development projects and discussed the potential for financial convergence between central and state schemes.