PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED IN TWO YEARS; 2,000 WILL BE READY IN 7 MTHS

 

 

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is set to build 41,000 homes in the next two years for the economically weaker section (EWS), a long neglected segment by government and private developers. This is the first time that any government or private agency has undertaken such a massive initiative to house the urban poor.

 

  

Given that DDA has allotted a total of 3, 67,000 houses in the past 40 years since it started building homes; a project to build 41,000 EWS homes in just two years looks massive.

  

DDA feels a fresh supply of EWS houses will discourage proliferation of slums in Delhi, a major menace for government and urban planners. "This segment (EWS) has, so far, remained neglected. These people don't have a proper house to live in and so they go and encroach government land. Our housing scheme will discourage encroachment," said Mr Kumar.

  

Lately, the housing for urban poor has acquired priority at DDA. According to a proposed DDA guideline, a private developer needs to compulsorily construct at least 35% of dwelling units or 15% of permissible FAR (ratio of developable space and the total area available for the project), whichever is higher, for EWS in all group housing projects in Delhi.

  

India has seen a major property boom in the past four years resulting in housing prices going up by 2-3 times. Houses in metro cities have become completely unaffordable for families in the lower income group, most of which have either shifted to outside metros or to slums spread across the cities. DDA's move would give this segment an opportunity to own a house and live with all basic amenities.

  

DDA is also likely to announce in the first week of August a new housing scheme for one, two and three-bedroom apartments. A total of 5,500 houses, spread across Dwarka, Rohini and Narela among other places, will be available for allotment. Since applicants usually far outnumber the houses available, DDA makes allotment on the basis of lottery.

 

                                                                                        Courtesy:- ET dtd:- July 30, 2008