Housing scheme failed due to lack of planning: CAG

07 Jul 2022 CW Team

The Comptroller and Auditor General report on "Social, General and Economic Sectors (Non-Public Sector Undertakings) of Union Territory of Delhi" for the year ended March 2018 noted that the Delhi government's plan to provide affordable housing to the city's poor and rehabilitate those living in slum clusters failed due to a lack of planning from the conceptual stage itself.

One element of the CAG's performance audit of various Delhi government departments was the evaluation of affordable housing projects for urban poor under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

The audit showed that despite 461 of the 675 targeted JJ clusters, which were to receive in situ rehabilitation, being in the remaining seven districts, all 14 housing projects conceptualised by Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) were restricted to only four districts. “Also, instead of small clusters evenly spread all over Delhi, housing projects with a large number of dwelling units were planned,” the report stated.

For economically disadvantaged sections, DSIIDC and DUSIB completed 14 housing projects totaling 52,344 apartments, but four of them, totaling more than 24,000 homes, were still unfinished more than a year after the scheme's closure. “It resulted in expenditure of Rs 755.3 crore remaining infructuous,” stated the report.

The Delhi government has been asked for Rs 2,210 crore by DSIIDC to repair empty apartments and finish those that are still under construction.

The Delhi government's effort to identify beneficiaries who qualified for affordable housing under the programme was criticised by the CAG as well. Only 1,864 of the 5,483 beneficiaries who could be identified by the government, it was claimed, had their housing units renovated as of August 2018.

“Due to the delay in identifying beneficiaries, more than 90% of the 28,344 dwelling units completed till June 2018 at a cost of Rs 1,101.4 crore were lying unallotted, unoccupied and vulnerable to deterioration. The objectives of the scheme remained unfulfilled even after 10 years of its launch and one year of its closure. This was mainly due to deficiency in planning and execution of projects and poor progress in identification of beneficiaries,” CAG stated.

The Comptroller and Auditor General report on Social, General and Economic Sectors (Non-Public Sector Undertakings) of Union Territory of Delhi for the year ended March 2018 noted that the Delhi government's plan to provide affordable housing to the city's poor and rehabilitate those living in slum clusters failed due to a lack of planning from the conceptual stage itself. One element of the CAG's performance audit of various Delhi government departments was the evaluation of affordable housing projects for urban poor under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The audit showed that despite 461 of the 675 targeted JJ clusters, which were to receive in situ rehabilitation, being in the remaining seven districts, all 14 housing projects conceptualised by Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) were restricted to only four districts. “Also, instead of small clusters evenly spread all over Delhi, housing projects with a large number of dwelling units were planned,” the report stated. For economically disadvantaged sections, DSIIDC and DUSIB completed 14 housing projects totaling 52,344 apartments, but four of them, totaling more than 24,000 homes, were still unfinished more than a year after the scheme's closure. “It resulted in expenditure of Rs 755.3 crore remaining infructuous,” stated the report. The Delhi government has been asked for Rs 2,210 crore by DSIIDC to repair empty apartments and finish those that are still under construction. The Delhi government's effort to identify beneficiaries who qualified for affordable housing under the programme was criticised by the CAG as well. Only 1,864 of the 5,483 beneficiaries who could be identified by the government, it was claimed, had their housing units renovated as of August 2018. “Due to the delay in identifying beneficiaries, more than 90% of the 28,344 dwelling units completed till June 2018 at a cost of Rs 1,101.4 crore were lying unallotted, unoccupied and vulnerable to deterioration. The objectives of the scheme remained unfulfilled even after 10 years of its launch and one year of its closure. This was mainly due to deficiency in planning and execution of projects and poor progress in identification of beneficiaries,” CAG stated.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Jul 2026

ABS Marine Sees CRISIL Credit Rating Upgrade

ABS Marine Services has secured an upgrade to its long term and short term credit ratings from CRISIL, reflecting improved profitability and revenue growth through long term contracts. CRISIL moved the long term rating from BBB+/Stable to A-/Stable and revised the short term rating from A2 to A2+. The action signals strengthened financial metrics and operational resilience. The company benefited from durable client relationships with firms such as ONGC and Schlumberger. The rating decision followed stronger cash flows and an enlarged bank loan facility, which increased from Rs 3,705 million (m..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Jul 2026

Project BRAHMANK Marks 16 Years Of Strategic Roads In Arunachal

Project BRAHMANK is marking 16 years of work to establish strategic road and bridge links across Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining and developing 811 kilometres of roads and nearly 86 bridges that range from small culverts to large steel and arch bridges. These transport links are described as critical for ensuring year-round movement of defence personnel, equipment and essential supplies while improving everyday travel for people in remote villages. The project balances national security requirements with regional development by focusing on reliable access in challenging terrain. Notable enginee..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Jul 2026

Longleng CSOs Give One Week Ultimatum Over Two-Lane Highway

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Longleng district have demanded immediate restoration of the deteriorating Changtongya–Longleng two-lane road and sought a detailed status report on the stalled construction within one week. The demand followed a consultative meeting convened under the Phom Peoples' Council (PPC) to discuss welfare and development concerns. PPC president YB Angam Phom said prolonged non-maintenance had caused hardship to commuters and affected transportation, local commerce and the district's development. The meeting urged authorities to undertake immediate restoration a..