Affordable Housing in Partnership

The Scheme of Affordable Housing in Partnership aims at operationalising the strategy envisaged in the National Urban Housing & Habitat Policy (NUHHP) 2007, of promoting various types of public-private partnerships – of the government sector with the private sector, the cooperative sector, the financial services sector, the state parastatals, urban local bodies, etc. – for realizing the goal of affordable housing for all.

The Scheme has been introduced as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and developed after consultation with States/UTs who have agreed to make urban land available at affordable rates.

The scheme is primarily applicable to the 65 cities covered under the BSUP programme. Other cities of population above 5 lakhs could be considered during implementation with approval of the National Steering Group for JNNURM, if adequate number of projects is not forthcoming from the 65 cities. However, project proposals from non-BSUP towns could be considered for sanction based on a review of the implementation of the Scheme by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation after two years.

The basic aim of the Scheme is to provide stimulus to economic activities through affordable housing programmes in partnership including with the private sector. The Scheme will also strive to ensure equitable supply of land, shelter and services at affordable prices to all sections of society, and thereby to prevent the growth of slums in urban areas. The projects which should be eligible under this scheme for assistance would need to meet the following two criteria:

1)       Dwelling units should be a mix of EWS/LIG/MIG categories with the maximum size of a dwelling unit being at 1200 square feet super area, with at least 25% of them for EWS of about 300 square feet. In terms of carpet area, the minimum carpet area for EWS category shall be 25 square metres and maximum carpet area for MIG category shall be 80 square metres.

2)       The sale price of dwelling units should have an upper ceiling in terms of Rupees per square metre of carpet area. The price ceiling would be settled in consultation with the States/UTs for different classes of cities.

Nine project proposals have been received by the Ministry. The same are being appraised.