New Delhi, Feb. 28 -- Urban local bodies that actively work to develop their own resources should be moved up the queue for financial assistance from the Union government and states, said Manohar Lal Khattar, minister of housing and urban affairs. In an interview with HT, he cautioned against the trend of providing free public services and stressed the need to build the capacity of urban local bodies to generate revenue to pay their share of centrally sponsored schemes and to contribute to the recently approved Rs.1 lakh crore urban challenge fund. He also made it clear that his ministry would not hesitate to deny approvals to Metro projects that are not financially viable. Edited excerpts:

The Union cabinet recently approved the Rs.1 la...