Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). This seven-year program (FY 2005-06 to FY 2011-12) is also expected to ensure India’s commitment to achieving the Millenium Development Goal – to facilitate investments in the urban sector, and to strengthen the existing policies in order to achieve these goals.

Launched on 3rd December, 2005, by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the JNNURM Mission Statement is “….to encorage reforms and fast track planned development of identified cities. Focus is to be on efficiency in urban infrastructure and service delivery mechanisms, community participations and accountability of ULBs (Urban Local Bodies)/Parastatal agencies toward the citizens.”
The objectives of JNNURM, as listed in its tookit, are “to ensure that the following are achieved in the urban sector:

a. Focussed attention to integrated development of infrastructure services in cities covered under the mission;

b. Establishment of linkages between asset-creation and asset management through a slew of reforms for long-term project sustainability;

• Ensuring adequate funds to meet the deficiencies in urban infrastructure services;

• Planned development of identified cities including peri-urban area, outgrowths and urban corridors leading to dispersed urbanization;

• Scale-up delivery of civic amenities and provision of utilities with emphasis on universal access to the urban poor;

• Special focus on urban renewal program for the old city areas to reduce congestation

• Provision of basic services to the urban poor including seurity of tenure at affordable prices, improved housing, water supply and sanitation, and ensuring delivery of other universal services of the government for education, health and social security.”

The JNNURM provides both incentives as well as support for undertaking reforms at State and Cities level while striving to reate the right framework for participatory planning and development and enhancing credotworthiness of urban local bodies so as to help them leverage substantial grants to attract private investments for sustainable urban development.

Three classes of cities/urban agglomerations have been identified for assistance under JNNURM :
Category A: Cities/urban agglomeration with population of 4 million and above as per 2001 census.
Category B: Cities/urban agglomeration with population of 1 million and above as per 2001 census.
Category C: Other selected cities/urban agglomeration, including state capitals and cities/UA of religious/historic and tourist importance.

Nashik city, with a population, of 1 million plus is one of cities identified under Category B, entitling it to 50 percent capital grant from the Central Government, 20 percent grants from the State Government, and 30 percent from Financial Institutions, as per JNNURM funding pattern.

The city of Nashik is the third most industrialized city of the State of Maharashtra after Mumbai & Pune. Historically, the city has always been a religious center- it is one of the four cities in India that hosts the massive Sinhastha Kumbh Mela once in twelve years. Temples and bathing ghats on the banks of Godavari have made Nashik one of the holiest places for Hindus all over the world.

As per the JNNURM strategy for achieving its objectives, each eligible city intending to accesss assistance under the Mission is expected to formulate a comprehensive City Development Plan (CDP) indicating policies, programs and strategies and financing plans, before seeking funding for specific projects. The CDP is to be formulated through a consultative process, articulating the stakeholders’