Gandhinagar: Centre on Friday approved Rs 2,719 crore for six projects in Ahmedabad city under the Urban Challenge Fund. These projects include the rejuvenation of the old and dilapidated sewerage network, an intelligent water management system, an integrated sludge management facility, and an integrated transit management system and automated fare collection system.An official statement said rehabilitation of the city’s sewerage network will significantly reduce problems such as sewerage overflows and leakages, and enable real-time digital monitoring and smart management of the entire sewerage and stormwater system. The statement added that producing biogas and green energy from sewage sludge will also promote an environmentally friendly circular economy.Under the funding pattern of the scheme, 25% of the project assistance will be provided by central govt, 25% by state govt, and the remaining 50% will be mobilised through municipal bonds, loans, or public-private partnership (PPP).Accordingly, AMC will receive Rs 679.9 crore as central govt assistance and Rs 679.9 crore as state govt assistance for these six projects, while the remaining amount will be financed through loans by the civic body.The projects approved by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs include Rs 852.9 crore for the rehabilitation of the main sewerage network in western Ahmedabad, Rs 551.3 crore for the rehabilitation of the main sewerage network in eastern Ahmedabad, Rs 290.2 crore for the rehabilitation of old sewerage networks in various parts of the city, Rs 215 crore for intelligent water management system, Rs 479.2 crore for a sludge management facility, and Rs 331 crore for integrated transit management system (ITMS) and automated fare collection system (AFCS).The statement said the transit management and fare collection systems will provide citizens with seamless travel through a common mobility card and common journey application for AMTS, BRTS and Metro services. Citizens will also benefit from accurate and real-time public transport information through the project, the statement added.
