Tag: affordable housing

Latest StoriesResidential

PMAY-U 2.0 Extended to Sept 2026; Aims for 1 Crore Urban Homes

Representative AI image 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…

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High-Priced Homes Out of Reach for Middle Class: Punjab HC

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has raised grave concerns regarding the skyrocketing costs of residential plots and flats auctioned by government development agencies in the Tricity—Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali—asserting these prices have made home ownership unattainable for middle-class and salaried professionals. The court has instructed the governments of Haryana, Punjab, and UT Chandigarh to develop a proposal aimed at addressing affordable housing, suggesting alternatives like lottery systems for all societal segments, including the salaried and middle class. “It seems that state authorities have begun prioritizing profit, abandoning the common citizen. The auction prices for residential properties are exorbitant,”…

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Haryana Assembly Approves Housing Board Merger with HSVP

CHANDIGARH: The Housing Board Haryana, a government housing entity active for 55 years, was officially dissolved on Friday after the Haryana Assembly sanctioned its merger into the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP). This occurred amidst symbolic resistance from opposition Congress leaders. This decision was made during the assembly’s first Budget session, where Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who was also the minister in charge, introduced the merger resolution. Saini explained that the roles of the Housing Board and HSVP were largely similar and assured that the interests of the Housing Board employees would be protected. The government has been working…

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Odisha Officials Visit Chennai for Affordable Housing Insights

BHUBANESWAR: A delegation from the Odisha government recently visited Chennai to explore affordable housing and urban habitat programs backed by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), according to an official statement released on Friday. Led by Usha Padhee, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, the team aimed to understand successful models of affordable housing delivery, institutional strengthening, innovative financing frameworks, and sustainable urban habitat development in Tamil Nadu. During their visit, Padhee, along with officials from the Odisha Urban Housing Mission (OUHM), engaged in detailed discussions with senior representatives from the Tamil…

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UP Approves Policy to Redevelop Buildings Over 25 Years Old

GHAZIABAD: On February 10, the Uttar Pradesh government announced the Urban Redevelopment Policy, 2026, introducing a comprehensive framework for redeveloping unsafe and dilapidated buildings that contribute to “urban decay” and pose risks to residents statewide. The policy allows for the redevelopment of both public and private housing projects that are at least 25 years old and cover a minimum of 1,500 square meters, contingent on a mandatory structural audit. Additionally, defunct industrial units shuttered for over three years and declared bankrupt by the National Company Law Tribunal, without any ongoing legal disputes, are also eligible. Government agencies will oversee the…

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Centre urges unified urban planning, expanded credit for housing needs

File Photo NEW DELHI: On Friday, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal stressed the necessity for cooperation among policymakers, financial institutions, and urban planners to improve accessibility and inclusivity in housing finance, especially with the anticipated surge in India’s urban population. During a conference organized by the National Housing Bank (NHB) and the Asia Pacific Union for Housing Finance (APUHF), the minister underscored the importance of integrated urban planning, which includes developing housing linked to transportation and innovative policies to meet future demand. Citing a joint study conducted by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Housing and Urban…

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Reforming Land Policies Can Boost Housing Affordability: Niti Aayog

Representative AI image NEW DELHI: Rajiv Gauba, a member of Niti Aayog, highlighted significant challenges in housing development due to land constraints. He called for comprehensive reforms to reduce land costs. “We should allocate a minimum of 10% of residential land for affordable housing in our master plans, increase permissible FARs (Floor Area Ratios) from the current 2-3 to 5-6, promote transit-oriented development, and adopt land pooling. These strategies will help reduce land costs and increase housing supply,” he stated. Currently, land accounts for 50-70% of total project costs, which is notably higher than in similar infrastructure sectors. Gauba made…

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What Real Estate Stakeholders Want from Budget 2026

NEW DELHI: With the Union Budget 2026 on the horizon, real estate developers and stakeholders are advocating for policy changes aimed at enhancing housing affordability, increasing liquidity, rationalizing taxes, and fostering long-term urban development. They are urging revisions in homebuyer incentives, adjustments in GST, and support for institutional capital and infrastructure initiatives to alleviate demand-side stresses and supply-side constraints. Industry leaders suggest that Budget 2026 is a key moment to realign housing policies with the realities of escalating land and construction costs, shifting buyer preferences, and the expanding role of real estate in India’s economic growth. Pradeep Aggarwal, the founder…

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Maharashtra links PMAY-Urban 2.0 to higher EWS prices

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has tightened the regulations under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0, requiring a minimum of 25% beneficiary registration before construction can begin or benefits can be accessed for certain affordable housing projects. This requirement applies to projects under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) and AHP-public private partnership (AHP-PPP) where the sale price of economically weaker section (EWS) homes exceeds the current annual statement of rates (ASR) by more than 20%. The updated guidelines, announced on January 23, were prompted by a review of detailed project reports (DPRs) submitted under PMAY (Urban) 2.0, which uncovered…

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Housing Revolution Needed: Niranjan Hiranandani, Naredco

NEW DELHI: The National Real Estate Development Council (Naredco) has pointed out a significant tax imbalance between corporations and individual taxpayers, urging the government to adjust income tax rates. The organization claims that individuals and partnerships engaged in business face substantially higher taxes compared to companies. Niranjan Hiranandani, chairman of Naredco, emphasized that while corporations generally pay an effective tax rate around 25%, individuals in similar business roles may pay up to 40%, including surcharges and cesses. “If a company is taxed at 25%, why should an individual or partnership in the same field face a 40% tax?” he questioned,…