In Gujarat, experts and business magnates at the recently held Vibrant Summit 2013 believe that affordable housing remains the most critical issue due to higher urban growth rate. During the last Gujarat assembly elections also rivals cashed on the critical matter as a politically mobilising issue with Congress floating its ‘Ghar nu Ghar’ scheme and BJP promising 50 lakh houses!
Experts say that the issue has reached critical dimensions because Gujarat’s urbanisation growth rate is higher compared to other states. They suggested various ways to tackle the issue including use of technology, policy changes and changes in general development controlling regulation (GDCR) along with public private partnership.
According to Gujarat Population Census 2011’s report, in last 10 years Gujarat’s urban population growth has remained at 35.83 per cent and 42.58 per cent of its population lives in cities. Due to higher urbanisation growth, Gujarat needs to build more houses in affordable segment, said V Suresh, former chairman and managing director of Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco).
He also said that the government promised to build 50 lakh houses which would demand investment of $30 billion. Suresh said that synchronisation of land, finance and technology is required for affordable housing sector. As cost of construction is going high, use of technology will make affordable housing sustainable in the long run, he said.