Uttar Pradesh is witnessing a major expansion of urban infrastructure as the Yogi Adityanath government gives greater emphasis to reliable drinking water, sewerage, sanitation, water conservation and environmentally sustainable civic amenities.
A significant part of this transformation is being driven through the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), and particularly AMRUT 2.0, under which large-scale projects are being implemented across the state’s cities. As of September 2026, Uttar Pradesh has approved 637 AMRUT 2.0 projects with a total estimated cost of Rs 29,716.29 crore . Of these, 114 projects have been completed , while work is progressing on 453 projects . Financial approval has been accorded to 612 projects and tenders for 567 projects have been approved, indicating the scale at which the programme is moving from planning and approval to execution.
The focus is not merely on creating physical infrastructure. The mission is aimed at improving the everyday quality of urban life by strengthening the systems that citizens depend upon most directly—water supply, sewerage, sanitation, public spaces, water bodies and green areas. From urban expansion to better urban services
The urban infrastructure and services have been improved through AMRUT in dozens of cities, while its wider urban-development programme has also included 10 cities under the national Smart Cities Mission and seven under the state’s own Smart City initiative, according to officials. This makes AMRUT 2.0 particularly important for a state as large and urbanising as Uttar Pradesh. The programme is being implemented from 2021 to 2026 and covers 762 urban local bodies and 60 AMRUT cities in the state. Drinking water receives the largest investment The largest component of the AMRUT 2.0 programme in Uttar Pradesh is drinking water. The state government has approved 437 drinking-water projects worth Rs 18,829 crore. Uttar Pradesh has approved 41 sewerage projects costing Rs 10,124 crore under AMRUT 2.0. Urban areas generate an estimated 5,500 MLD of sewage, while 157 sewage treatment plants have an installed capacity of about 4,724 MLD, according to the Uttar Pradesh government’s Jal Jeevan Mission data. Water conservation moves to the centre of urban planning One of the important features of AMRUT 2.0 is that urban development is being linked with water conservation. The Uttar Pradesh government has approved 190 water-body revival projects costing Rs 403.45 crore. Green spaces and parks for more liveable cities AMRUT 2.0 also incorporates an environmental dimension through the development of parks and green areas. Under the programme, 1,777 green-land and park projects worth Rs 89.76 crore are being taken up. A move towards integrated urban infrastructure The significance of AMRUT 2.0 lies partly in the fact that its projects are not isolated from one another. The AMRUT 2.0 framework provides an opportunity to approach these challenges together. Uttar Pradesh has established a central digital monitoring centre for its 17 Smart Cities, reflecting the government’s wider emphasis on technology-based monitoring of urban projects. Nine years of changing the urban development landscape The AMRUT programme has formed one part of the broader urban transformation pursued during the Yogi government’s tenure since 2017. It also records the development of 10 Smart Cities under the national mission and seven under the state’s own initiative.
Because urban water security depends upon an entire chain of infrastructure—from the source and treatment facilities to transmission networks, distribution pipelines, reservoirs and household connections, the scale of investment is significant. AMRUT 2.0 therefore provides an opportunity to address these requirements through integrated projects. Infrastructure created today must therefore be capable of serving not only present populations but also future urban expansion. Expanding sewerage infrastructure therefore has implications beyond individual neighbourhoods. Protecting and rejuvenating water bodies, therefore, can form part of a larger strategy for managing both water scarcity and urban flooding. Because the state has a very large and diverse urban network, this integrated approach is particularly relevant for Uttar Pradesh. The objective is therefore not simply to construct individual assets but to develop urban systems capable of supporting a growing economy.
The transformation of Uttar Pradesh’s cities during the Yogi government has taken place alongside a broader expansion of urban infrastructure. The state’s urban development programme has included Smart Cities, metro rail, affordable housing, roads, waste management, public transport and civic infrastructure. AMRUT complements these initiatives by addressing a different but fundamental layer of urban infrastructure. dependable water supply and effective sewerage determine whether that growth translates into improved living conditions for households While major transport and technology projects can change the physical profile of a city. Emphasis is on ensuring that urban growth is accompanied by basic services and improved environmental conditions. These projects are intended to strengthen water-supply infrastructure and expand access to treated and reliable piped drinking water in urban areas. Strengthening any single component without improving the rest can leave cities with an uneven supply system. The focus on drinking water also acquires greater importance as cities expand. Population growth, new residential areas, industrial development and rising demand for water place additional pressure on existing systems. The programme’s emphasis on tap-water access represents a shift from simply creating water sources towards strengthening the complete urban water-supply system. Sewerage and sanitation as a second pillar The second major component is sewerage infrastructure. These projects are designed to improve sewer networks, treatment infrastructure and connections, helping cities manage wastewater more effectively. Sewerage is closely connected with both public health and environmental protection. In rapidly growing cities, inadequate sewer networks can result in untreated or partially treated wastewater entering drains, water bodies and rivers. Current state data also illustrates the continuing scale of the sewerage challenge. Several sewage-treatment projects are under construction through programmes including AMRUT and the state sector. This makes the AMRUT investment in sewerage particularly relevant. Sewer networks, treatment plants and household connections have to grow alongside urban populations if cities are to prevent wastewater from becoming a source of environmental degradation. The objective is to restore and rejuvenate water bodies, improve their ecological condition and strengthen local water-retention capacity. This approach recognises that urban water security cannot depend entirely on piped supply and groundwater extraction. Traditional ponds, lakes and other water bodies can play an important role in retaining rainwater, supporting groundwater recharge and moderating the impact of heavy rainfall. The mission also provides for revival of eligible water bodies, rainwater harvesting and other water-conservation measures. For Uttar Pradesh’s rapidly expanding cities, this has a wider significance. Urbanisation frequently replaces open surfaces with roads, buildings and other hard surfaces. During intense rainfall, this can increase runoff and reduce the amount of water naturally entering the ground. Though smaller in financial value than drinking-water and sewerage projects, these initiatives address another important aspect of urban quality of life. Parks and green spaces provide recreational areas, support local biodiversity and can contribute to a more pleasant urban environment. Their importance increases as cities become denser and built-up areas expand. The state’s broader urban-development strategy has also emphasised green and sustainable development, including tree plantation, green-building practices and renewable-energy initiatives. AMRUT’s green-space component thus fits into a wider effort to ensure that urban expansion does not mean the disappearance of open and environmentally beneficial spaces. Drinking-water supply, sewerage, water conservation and green spaces form an interconnected urban ecosystem. A city that receives new water-supply infrastructure but lacks adequate wastewater management will continue to face environmental pressures. Similarly, sewerage expansion without protection of natural water bodies can leave cities vulnerable to ecological degradation. Its cities range from major metropolitan centres such as Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi to rapidly expanding tier-II and smaller urban centres. Urban infrastructure requirements also vary considerably. Some cities need expansion of existing systems, while others require entirely new networks to serve newly developed areas. Linking urban infrastructure with economic growth Improved civic infrastructure is also important from an economic perspective. Reliable water supply and sewerage are basic requirements for households, businesses, institutions and industries. Better civic services can support new residential development, commercial activity and investment by making cities more capable of handling growth. The Yogi government’s broader urban transformation programme has increasingly connected infrastructure with economic development. Uttar Pradesh’s urban-development strategy includes metro networks, Smart Cities, housing and other infrastructure alongside schemes such as AMRUT. The state has also pursued integrated development plans for major urban centres, with AMRUT listed among the central programmes supporting such transformation. Implementation and monitoring are critical The state government’s existing urban monitoring mechanisms can complement this implementation effort. Over these years, Uttar Pradesh has simultaneously expanded metro connectivity, Smart City infrastructure, housing, roads, public transport and civic services. The state’s own urban-development information highlights metro operations in Lucknow, Kanpur and Agra, along with other urban centres where projects have been underway. AMRUT adds another dimension to this transformation: the infrastructure beneath everyday urban life. For a resident, urban transformation is ultimately experienced not only through large infrastructure projects but also through whether water reaches the household, wastewater is properly treated, neighbourhoods have usable parks and local water bodies remain healthy. Building water-secure and environmentally sustainable cities
With 637 projects approved, implementation has become the next major priority. A substantial movement towards execution is demonstrated well as 114 projects have already been completed and work is progressing on 453. The AMRUT 2.0 portfolio—with nearly Rs 29,716 crore of approved projects—places water and wastewater management at the heart of this challenge. The allocation of Rs 18,829 crore for drinking-water projects and Rs 10,124 crore for sewerage projects demonstrates the scale of the infrastructure requirement, while the separate investments in water-body revival and green spaces broaden the mission beyond conventional utility development. In this sense, AMRUT 2.0 represents more than a collection of construction projects.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in Lucknow Stay updated with the latest Lucknow news. At the same time, the scale of the programme means that timely completion, quality control and effective operation of completed infrastructure will remain important. Water and sewerage projects, in particular, require sustained attention even after construction is completed. Treatment plants have to operate efficiently, distribution systems need maintenance and household connections need to function properly. Similarly, revived water bodies and parks require continuing maintenance if the benefits are to be sustained over time. The next phase of urban development in Uttar Pradesh will increasingly depend on how effectively cities manage limited natural resources while accommodating economic and population growth. A renewed emphasis on rainwater harvesting, water-body rejuvenation and green areas also indicates an effort to connect urban infrastructure with environmental sustainability. It is part of a wider attempt to make Uttar Pradesh’s expanding cities better equipped to provide essential services, conserve water and create healthier urban environments. With hundreds of projects already completed or under implementation, the focus now is on completing the remaining works within prescribed timelines, maintaining quality and ensuring that the infrastructure delivers lasting benefits to citizens. As Uttar Pradesh continues its rapid urbanisation, the success of this effort will increasingly be measured by the everyday experience of its urban residents—access to clean water, effective sanitation, healthier surroundings, greener neighbourhoods and cities better prepared for future growth. Download the TOI App.