Budget 2019—Govt reaffirms its commitment towards affordable housing, proposes to construct 1.95 crore houses under PMAY

Union Budget 2019: Presenting her maiden Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that the government proposes to construct 1.95 crore houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural). 

Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Modi government will continue with its consistent approach towards affordable housing with more focus on increasing the carpet area, re-defining income criteria and giving infrastructure status under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. 

The infrastructure status tag had already been given to the affordable housing in the previous budget. 

With its commitment towards affordable housing, the government aims to increase the number of beneficiaries in terms of the credit-linked subsidy scheme (CLSS). 

The finance minister also said that in the time period between 2017-2018, the number of days in constructing the house reduced to 114 from 314 days in 2015-16.

"Time taken to complete construction of houses under PMAY cut to 114 days from 314 days in 2015-16 due to use of DBT platform, technology," Nirmala Sitharaman said.

"Under PMAY (Urban), over 81 lakh houses with an investment of about Rs 4.83 lakh crore have been sanctioned of which construction has started in about 47 Lakh houses. Over 26 Lakh houses have been completed of which nearly 24 Lakh houses have been delivered, to beneficiaries," Sitharaman said. 

FM: Under PMAY (Urban), over 81 Lakh houses with investment of about Rs 4.83 Lakh Cr have been sanctioned of which construction has started in about 47 Lakh houses. Over 26 Lakh houses have been completed of which nearly 24 Lakh houses have been delivered, to beneficiaries. pic.twitter.com/al2d3x5z50

— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2019

(With inputs from PTI)