Ghaziabad authority to develop 12,000 affordable flats

Kanchan Verma, authority’s vice chairperson, said that, overall, a target of two lakh flats is likely for the entire state and a policy will soon be finalised for affordable housing, in line with ‘Pradhan Marti Awas Yojana.’

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) intends to develop nearly 12,000 flats under its affordable housing scheme. Officials said that deliberations are on for the scheme at the state level, under which developers will ensure delivery of flats within two years.

Officials said that the new affordable scheme will also do away with the ‘shelter fee’, under which developers paid the authority in case they failed to develop the project. Previously, many builders skipped the projects by paying the ‘shelter fee’. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Kanchan Verma, authority’s vice chairperson, said that, overall, a target of two lakh flats is likely for the entire state and a policy will soon be finalised for affordable housing, in line with ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.’

“The flats will be RERA compliant and also with the prevalent building by-laws of the state. The developers will be given floor area ratio (FAR) of three, or even more, to help them with more construction area. The FAR component can also be used for other projects by the developer as the scheme will also offer transferable development rights that will allow the FAR to be used for other projects,” Verma said.

“The emphasis of the government is on developing housing units under the affordable scheme and to ensure that these are completed and delivered within two years, unlike the previous schemes. A certain ratio of the property will also be mortgaged to ensure speedy delivery,” she said.

Officials said that the new affordable scheme will also do away with the ‘shelter fee’, under which developers paid the authority in case they failed to develop the project. Previously, many builders skipped the projects by paying the ‘shelter fee’.

Verma said that the decisions were taken at a recent meeting on July 5 in Lucknow and more meetings will be taken up soon with state officials and developers to finalise the modalities.

The state officials are also mooting plans to provide a single window clearance for developers so that required clearances such as NOCs and environmental clearance can be dealt with at a single point to speed up the project clearance. Officials have also invited suggestions from private developers and their associations.