The Telangana Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department’s ₹4,000-crore Telangana Urban Transformation and Jobs Programme, a World Bank-assisted initiative aimed at transforming selected urban clusters into liveable, climate-resilient and economically vibrant regions, received approval from the 166th Screening Committee of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Union Finance Ministry at a meeting held on Friday.The clearance will enable processing under the Centre’s appraisal mechanism for externally aided projects, according to an official release issued by MA&UD Secretary T.K. Sreedevi. The programme also seeks to improve the quality of essential municipal services and strengthen urban institutions.It aims to strengthen urban infrastructure and municipal services in Tier-II and Tier-III cities through investments in water supply, sewerage, stormwater drainage, urban mobility, blue-green infrastructure, climate resilience and public spaces. These initiatives are expected to improve liveability and service delivery.The programme also seeks to improve the financial sustainability of urban local bodies, facilitate market-based financing and the development of bankable infrastructure projects, and support institutional reforms, digital governance and access to initiatives such as the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) and the City Economic Region (CER).In addition, it is expected to promote regional economic growth through the CER framework, integrated planning and improved regional connectivity, while attracting private investment to enhance urban competitiveness and generate employment opportunities. Published - August 07, 2026 07:41 pm IST