Long-awaited EWS housing project finally begins in Mohali

After almost a decade of delays, the housing society project aimed at providing homes for the economically weaker section (EWS) has finally commenced in Mohali. The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has taken a significant step forward by appointing a consultant for the project.The groundwork for this initiative was laid when the Punjab EWS Housing policy was notified by the state cabinet in August 2021. As per this policy, GMADA will employ brickless technology to construct the houses. In the initial phase, 5,000 dwelling units will be built under the supervision of GMADA's chief administrator, Rajiv Gupta.To ensure efficient execution of the project from start to finish, a public sector undertaking of the Government of India was recently selected as the project management consultant (PMC). The PMC will handle all aspects of the project, including the development of a web portal for application submissions, market demand analysis, close monitoring of construction activities, ensuring high-quality standards, and overseeing the handover to the respective Resident Welfare Associations (RWA).The EWS housing policy, which received cabinet approval on March 9, 2021, outlines the construction of a total of 25,000 EWS houses. These houses will be constructed by the Special Urban Planning and Development Authorities, falling under the purview of the housing and urban development department. Under the policy, GMADA will only charge the construction cost for the flats, excluding the land cost, making it affordable for EWS families.In total, GMADA has plans to construct 22,000 EWS flats, and for this purpose, the authority has already acquired 230 acres of land. Progress is underway as a consultant has been hired to prepare blueprints, and the Detailed Project Report (DRP) is ready. The estimated cost of the entire project is currently being calculated, based on the policy that was already approved by the Punjab cabinet in 2021.