Ahmedabad – During the opening day of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Urban Development Minister Rishikesh Patel announced significant progress in the state’s efforts to provide affordable housing. According to Minister Patel, the Gujarat government has constructed 55,575 homes over the past two years under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 under the 'Housing for All' campaign, PMAY aims to construct three crore new homes within the next five years. Minister Patel elaborated on the financial aspects of the scheme during the assembly’s question period, explaining that the central government offers Rs 1.5 lakh per beneficiary, while the state government adds an additional Rs 2 lakh, totaling Rs 3.5 lakh in assistance distributed directly to beneficiaries' accounts in three phases.
The Urban Development Minister also highlighted that Gujarat has approved the construction of 9.78 lakh housing units, of which 8.83 lakh have already been built. This includes the facilitation of credit-linked subsidies to over 6.13 lakh beneficiaries, assisting them with interest on loans for their first homes. Gujarat’s efforts in this sector have earned the state 14 awards, positioning it as a leader among Indian states in terms of housing development.
Under the Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) component of PMAY, 1,56,978 houses have been approved in Gujarat, with 1,20,594 already completed and 36,384 still under construction. For these initiatives, the central and state governments have jointly contributed Rs 4,595 crore in aid, underscoring their commitment to enhancing urban infrastructure and housing for economically weaker sections of society.
This announcement from Minister Patel underscores Gujarat’s proactive approach to addressing urban housing needs, reflecting the broader national goal set by PM Modi to ensure that every Indian has access to affordable and quality housing.
