5,648 Homes Allocated to Migrant Workers Under ARHC Scheme in 4.5 Years

10 Dec 2024 CW Team

Barely 5,648 government-funded vacant houses have been allotted to migrant workers under the Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) scheme, almost four-and-a-half years after it was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic. This number represents less than 7 per cent of the 83,534 houses initially identified for the scheme when it was approved by the Cabinet.

In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, junior housing and urban affairs minister Tokhan Sahu informed the Upper House that five states and Union Territories (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh) out of 13 with vacant government-funded houses have so far converted them into ARHC units.

With the exception of Chandigarh and Jammu & Kashmir, none of the five states have converted and allotted all their vacant houses for rental to migrant workers. Among the states that have not converted a single vacant house, Maharashtra has the highest number, with 32,345 flats, followed by Delhi with 29,112, and Uttar Pradesh with 5,232. The ARHC scheme was launched in July 2020 as part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) to provide dignified living for urban migrants and the poor near their workplaces.

The scheme has two models: the first involves utilising government-funded vacant houses constructed under various schemes, converting them into ARHCs through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) or by public agencies. The second model focuses on the construction, operation, and maintenance of ARHCs by public or private entities on their own available vacant land. The ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that, so far, 82,273 ARHC units have been sanctioned, and 35,425 units have been completed, all of which are in Tamil Nadu.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..