Thursday, June 22 2006 11:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday (June 21,2006) said the UPA Government had decided to focus on urban renewal and sought new investments in world class infrastructure to make cities 'liveable and people-friendly'.

"The UPA Government has reversed the trend of neglect of urban areas and had committed Rs 50,000 crore over the next five years under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for upgradation of urban infrastructure," Singh said after laying the foundation stone of the first phase of Rs 19,500 crore Mumbai metro rail project.

The first phase of the project would include three corridor, the first being 11.7 kms stretch from Versova to Ghatkopar.

Singh said public transport should be the focus for the country's future planning as nearly 40 per cent of the population would be staying in urban areas in coming years.

The decongestion of cities is possible only if rapid transport facilities are made available to the people, he said.

Pointing to the need for civic reforms, the Prime Minister said that people needed better urban governance and a more responsive and transparent urban administration.

He said Mumbai municipal administration should be freed from the 'cancer of corruption' and stranglehold of land mafia.