The Punjab Government on Sunday approved a Rs 8,745 crore total revamp plan, under the Punjab Urban Development Mission (PUDM), to upgrade all civic amenities in all the 142 cities of the State. To be done on an integrated turnkey basis, a single agency would now provide the facilities with a mandate to maintain them in top condition for the next 10-15 years. The decision was arrived at a high-level meeting of the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal with the Ministers for Local Government and Forests, Chunni Lal Bhagat and Surjit Kumar Jyani, an official release said. Principal Secretary for Local Government would work out a schedule for development of 142 cities in five years. Work to be undertaken include providing and maintaining water supply and sewerage systems, laying new and upgrading existing internal roads, street-lighting, maintaining green belts and parks as well as construct overbridges within the cities through comprehensive traffic engineering works. Focusing on adherence to the timeline for execution of the mega project, Mr. Badal suggested appointing a special ‘mission director’. Elaborating distribution of funds for the next 5 years, the Ministers were informed that Rs 3739 crore would be required for 100 per cent coverage under the water supply schemes and completion of the remaining 37 per cent of the sewerage networks in the urban areas would entail Rs 2759 crore. The government proposed to spend Rs 2300 crore on sewerage treatment plants and Rs 1476 crore on roads and parks. While Rs.730 crore were earmarked for slum development and housing, Rs 564.66 crore would be utilised for making all cities slum-free and Rs 215.57 crore would be utilised to providing housing for the urban poor. The release said that the meeting had a focused view on reforms in urban development sector, where statuary amendment in the laws including simplification of issuance of Change in Land Use certificate. It was decided to bring 162 services under e-governance and provide time bound service to the citizens.