The city topped in the implementation of Jawaharlar Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). With abundant funds available the execution of the projects is going at a fast pace. According to sources, after Ahmadabad, Vijayawada stands in the best position in following the guidelines of the mission in the implementation of various projects in urban areas. The city has also received accolades as it has successfully implemented projects like e-governance, double-entry accounting, collection of more than 95 per cent of property tax and funds allocation for urban poor. So far, the city has been granted Rs 950.25 crore under the JNNURM for several schemes for the development of urban poor. The central government has released Rs 90 crore grant and the state government has given Rs 36 crore to the Municipal Corporation. The VMC has already spent Rs 88 crore out of it. The corporation has taken up a total of 14 projects under the JNNURM, including housing, drinking water supply and underground drainage. The works are in various stages. The VMC officials are making efforts to complete the targets in housing schemes and are plan to inaugurate the colonies by October. The recent price rise in the markets of steel and cement has largely affected the project and some are still at receiving tenders. An amount of Rs 35.48 crore has been sanctioned for the provision of supplying drinking water in dry areas and Rs 16.67 crore has been spent so far on it. Under the drainage and sewerage works, the corporation has received Rs 56.56 crore and spent Rs 21.40 crore. In both the projects, 40 per cent of the works have been completed. The underground drainage works are going on in Krishnalanka, Singhnagar, Gunadala, Khuddusnagar, Housing Board Colony and Devinagar. The corporation has taken up slum area development projects at an estimated cost of Rs 547 crore to provide basic infrastructure and amenities. Under these schemes Rs 56 crore was released and Rs 29 crore has been spent.