Minister for Urban Development and Housing M Venkaiaha Naidu has said that the Centre has introduced a new approach to place Urban India on fast track to convert challenges into opportunities in the last three years. <br/><br/>Briefing media on achievements of his Ministry in New Delhi today, Mr Naidu said, the present government made a quantum break from the past in improving urban infrastructure and quality of life. He said, the Rule of Law was enforced in the urban sector in the last three years and bringing real estate sector under the purview of the Real Estate Act was another major enforcement of the rule of law. <br/><br/>The Minister said, a total investment of 4 lakh 13 thousand 475 crore rupees has been approved so far for improving basic urban infrastructure. He said, a total of 6 thousand 7 hundred 37 projects were approved in the last three years. He informed that only 3 thousand 1 hundred 38 projects were cleared during the tenures of two previous governments. He said, for the first time in the country 500 cities are undertaking well thought out interventions for improving urban infrastructure under AMRUT scheme. He said, supplementary guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban will soon come out with to enable affordable housing in partnership with private sector. <br/><br/>Mr Naidu said, Urban transformation is critical for transformation of India and there is a new confidence regarding Urban Renaissance. He said, a new language of governance and resource mobilization is being adopted by cities all over the country now. <br/><br/>The Minister said, all new urban missions are progressing well. He said, Swachh Bharat Mission has succeeded in improving the civic sense of citizens. He said, 322 AMRUT cities acquired Credit Ratings and 147 have got investment grade so far. He said, Smart City Mission is infusing a certain dynamism for development of urban spaces. Mr Naidu said, affordable housing sector has been granted infrastructure status with several concessions and incentives. He informed that new policy initiatives like Green Urban Transport and New Metro Policy are at advanced stage of consideration.<br/>