Smart Cities Mission brings together govt schemes on affordable housing
SMART CITIES

Smart Cities Mission brings together govt schemes on affordable housing

In India, affordable housing has been one of the central areas of the government over the last few years. People migrate to towns and cities searching for employment, and due to their low-paying jobs, they find it challenging to spend money on accommodation.

Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Mission Director, Smart Cities Mission (SCM), told the media that due to low-paying jobs, it is difficult to afford proper housing.

As a result, slums and informal settlements end in poor conditions that lack primary services. Therefore, it becomes essential to improve liveability, workability, and sustainability in a city with affordable housing and a decent standard of living.

Some of the difficulties and critical issues faced in India for the development of affordable housing include lengthy statutory clearance and approval processes, lack of availability of inappropriate choice of land parcels, planning and project design, high cost of construction finance, etc. We also have a shortage of low-cost technologies to reduce cost, which plays a significant role.

According to the last census, India observed an unprecedented growth in the speed and scale of urbanisation. The country has a 31% urban population residing in over 4,000 cities and towns.

As per the estimation of the High Power Expert Committee Report (2011), by the year 2031, the country will have more than 87 metropolitan areas, 600 million people residing in urban areas, and a 20-25% increase in urban population, which will also result in rising demands for affordable housing.

Some of the policies, programmes and actions initiated by the Government of India in the Affordable Housing sector during the previous decade include:

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
External Commercial Borrowing
Opening up of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Construction of low-cost houses
The Credit Risk Guarantee Fund
Urban Housing Fund Refinancing Scheme
Tax-free bonds issued by HUDCO and NHB
Recent amendments to the Finance Act (2016)

The Smart Cities Mission (SCM), launched in June 2015 to produce 100 Smart Cities within five years, is one of the largest urban missions in India, including the overarching aim of accelerating economic growth and developing the quality of life in Indian cities.

Out of a complete investment of Rs 2 lakh crore on each Smart Cities Mission project, 143 affordable housing projects have been offered amounting to almost Rs 18,000 crore.

Out of these, 54 projects worth Rs 2634 crore have been completed, and work has begun for 53 projects worth Rs 12,723 crore. Moreover, 36 projects worth Rs 2,223.02 crore are under convergence with PMAY.

Image Source

Also read: Jharkhand bags first rank in govt’s Smart City Mission ranking

Also read: Smart city: Rajasthan ranks second in India in implementing projects

In India, affordable housing has been one of the central areas of the government over the last few years. People migrate to towns and cities searching for employment, and due to their low-paying jobs, they find it challenging to spend money on accommodation. Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Mission Director, Smart Cities Mission (SCM), told the media that due to low-paying jobs, it is difficult to afford proper housing. As a result, slums and informal settlements end in poor conditions that lack primary services. Therefore, it becomes essential to improve liveability, workability, and sustainability in a city with affordable housing and a decent standard of living. Some of the difficulties and critical issues faced in India for the development of affordable housing include lengthy statutory clearance and approval processes, lack of availability of inappropriate choice of land parcels, planning and project design, high cost of construction finance, etc. We also have a shortage of low-cost technologies to reduce cost, which plays a significant role. According to the last census, India observed an unprecedented growth in the speed and scale of urbanisation. The country has a 31% urban population residing in over 4,000 cities and towns. As per the estimation of the High Power Expert Committee Report (2011), by the year 2031, the country will have more than 87 metropolitan areas, 600 million people residing in urban areas, and a 20-25% increase in urban population, which will also result in rising demands for affordable housing. Some of the policies, programmes and actions initiated by the Government of India in the Affordable Housing sector during the previous decade include: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) External Commercial Borrowing Opening up of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Construction of low-cost houses The Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Urban Housing Fund Refinancing Scheme Tax-free bonds issued by HUDCO and NHB Recent amendments to the Finance Act (2016) The Smart Cities Mission (SCM), launched in June 2015 to produce 100 Smart Cities within five years, is one of the largest urban missions in India, including the overarching aim of accelerating economic growth and developing the quality of life in Indian cities. Out of a complete investment of Rs 2 lakh crore on each Smart Cities Mission project, 143 affordable housing projects have been offered amounting to almost Rs 18,000 crore. Out of these, 54 projects worth Rs 2634 crore have been completed, and work has begun for 53 projects worth Rs 12,723 crore. Moreover, 36 projects worth Rs 2,223.02 crore are under convergence with PMAY. Image Source Also read: Jharkhand bags first rank in govt’s Smart City Mission ranking Also read: Smart city: Rajasthan ranks second in India in implementing projects

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Set to Launch by 2028

India’s first bullet train is set to revolutionize high-speed travel along the western corridor, with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project aiming for a 2028 launch. This announcement marks a major milestone in India’s infrastructure goals, as it promises to reduce travel time between the two economic hubs from eight hours to just three.Spanning a planned 508-kilometre stretch, the corridor stands as a flagship example of Indo-Japanese collaboration in technology and engineering. Once operational, the train is expected to transform intercity mobility and place India among the select..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Mumbai-Gandhinagar Train Service Enhances Passenger Capacity

The Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express has increased its passenger capacity by adding four additional AC chair car coaches to meet the growing commuter demand on one of India’s busiest business corridors. This upgrade, effective from 11 May, raised the train’s seating capacity from 1,128 to 1,440 passengers, allowing it to serve 936 more passengers daily in both directions. The increase was described as a practical measure to accommodate the surging demand on the busy Mumbai–Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar route, which regularly operates at over 150 percent seat occupancy...

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Delhi Plans 12 Sewage Plants to Clean Najafgarh Drain Efficiently

Delhi’s ambitious plan to improve the water quality of the Yamuna River has gained significant momentum as the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has begun work on 12 new sewage treatment plants (STPs) aimed at reducing the volume of untreated sewage being discharged from the Najafgarh Drain.This initiative forms part of the ongoing efforts to clean the Yamuna and restore the river’s health, which has long been a critical environmental issue for the national capital. Given the alarming pollution levels in the Yamuna, experts and officials consider this project a vital step toward addressing the persist..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?