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The Government of Odisha has unveiled a housing initiative designed to make homeownership accessible for low and middle-income families in Bhubaneswar. The scheme aims to provide houses priced between Rs 15 to 50 lakh, which will be allocated through a lottery system.
Offering Hope to Renters
The Housing and Urban Development Department is also spearheading this initiative, committing to support those who have long resided in rented accommodation in the city. "Our objective is to provide quality housing for these income groups," stated the department minister.
Houses will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with a focus on transparency through tenders.
Accessibility Concerns
Meanwhile, urban planners have expressed concern, as many middle-income families may still find these prices unaffordable. The state government is aware of this gap and intends to provide long-term loan facilities to address these challenges. Maintenance and EMI (Equated Monthly Instalment) collection will be managed by the Cooperative bank, ensuring systematic financial handling.
Expansion Plans
Initially targeting Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the scheme is poised for extension to more municipal areas, contingent on demand. Importantly, the government is also striving towards making the city slum-free and enhancing rental housing options. The Urban Development Minister highlighted the ongoing housing shortages in urban areas, which contribute to slum expansion, underscoring the need for more rental properties.
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The initiative has garnered support from urban planners for its dual focus on providing housing for middle-income groups and bolstering rental housing systems. Yet, the challenge of affordability persists, emphasising the necessity for accommodating long-term loans.
"We will ensure that no slums will be created in Bhubaneswar. The main reason behind the creation of slums is scarcity of houses. If we provide affordable houses and rented houses to people, there will be no more slums," said Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra.
"As per the loan process, it is very much difficult to afford it. As a majority of people are not government servants and don't have a formal job, banks are not eager to provide them loans. People can afford houses if they are provided long-term loans. Many people are not able to fit into the EMI systems of the banks," said Piyush Rout, an urban planner.
