NEW DELHI: The Central Government has extended the deadline for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) until September 30, 2026, to support the completion of ongoing housing projects and the release of necessary funds, as stated by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, in a written response to the Lok Sabha.
Initiated on June 25, 2015, PMAY-U aims to ensure eligible urban households across India have access to durable housing with essential civic amenities.
Learning from the previous implementation of the scheme, the government has launched PMAY-U 2.0, effective September 1, 2024. This updated program aims to assist one crore additional urban beneficiaries over the next five years, enabling affordable construction, purchase, or rental of homes.
The initiative is executed through four key components: Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Affordable Rental Housing (ARH), and the Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS).
To expedite and make construction more sustainable, the ministry encourages the use of modern and innovative building technologies through the Technology Sub-Mission (TSM) under PMAY-U.
In alignment with the Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India), 54 internationally recognized construction technologies have been selected and categorized based on geo-climatic conditions for use by states and union territories.
As part of this initiative, six Light House Projects (LHPs) using various construction technologies have been established in six cities nationwide to demonstrate durable and disaster-resilient housing solutions. Additionally, 13 demonstration housing projects have been accomplished to exhibit alternative materials and energy-efficient construction practices.
The ministry has also launched training initiatives to educate professionals and stakeholders on emerging construction technologies, including the NAVARITIH online course on innovative housing technologies and the RACHNA training program, which has hosted over 150 workshops nationwide, benefiting over 11,000 stakeholders.
Moreover, the Performance Appraisal Certification Scheme (PACS) by the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council has certified 88 innovative construction products and systems suitable for various climatic regions in the country.
To further advance sustainable construction in PMAY-U 2.0, the government has introduced the Technology & Innovation Sub-Mission (TISM), which emphasizes climate-responsive designs and green building standards while promoting resource-efficient building materials.
Projects under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) segment that utilize innovative construction methods are eligible for an additional Technology Innovation Grant (TIG), according to the minister.
The ministry has stated that the quality of construction under PMAY-U 2.0 will be monitored by third-party quality assurance agencies appointed by states and union territories, which will evaluate project sites and advise local authorities on quality control matters.
