Centre Pushes States for Full Affordable-Home Occupancy

Centre has ordered a halt on new projects in some cities owing to vacancies in some projects

- Rituraj Baruah

Vacant affordable homes built under a flagship government scheme have prompted the Centre to propose a temporary halt on new projects in some cities. Inadequate infrastructure, including water, sanitation, sewerage, electricity and roads is seen as the key reason for people staying away from homes built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana's (PMAY) Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) vertical.

The housing and urban affairs ministry (MoHUA) in a recent meeting with several states including Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh discussed the issue that is affecting the government scheme to provide all-weather pucca houses to all eligible beneficiaries.

According to data provided by the ministry to Parliament in March, about 90 million out of the 118 million houses sanctioned under PMAY have been completed. And of these, 87.5 million are occupied.