S Jaipal Reddy: Minister of Urban Development
Saugata Ray: Minister of State 

S Jaipal Reddy was Information & Broadcasting minister in the United Front government. He was instrumental in giving autonomy to state-run Doordarshan. He served as the minister for Information and Broadcasting in the Manmohan Singh with additional responsibility for Culture.

The 67-year-old Reddy, from the Congress party, represents the Chevella constituency of Andhra Pradesh. He was conferred the Best Parliamentarian Award in 1998. He has been elected to the Lok Sabha five times.

Issues

Poor housing in cities and towns, poor infrastructure in cities

What he plans to do

Reddy said that the ministry is in advanced stages of talks with the World Bank to secure a $3 billion loan. It will be utilised for up gradation of the infrastructure facilities in the cities.  He further added that improving the supply of water would be given utmost priority.

The private sector must now concentrate on providing accommodation for the middle class and the poor, Reddy said.

He plans to talk to state governments for providing land for housing the poor and the middle class.

His priority is to complete the task of drafting the bill seeking to create an urban regulatory authority for Delhi. The ministry will improve infrastructure services.

He is keen on taking the metro to other major cities and expanding its network in Delhi.