New Delhi, Aug 13 (NationPress) The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has officially sanctioned an additional 1.47 lakh pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 initiative, spanning across 14 states and Union Territories as part of the Centre's 'Housing for All' mission, as stated in a release on Wednesday.

The total number of houses approved amounts to 1,46,582 across the following regions: Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. This brings the cumulative total of houses sanctioned under PMAY-U 2.0 to 8.56 lakh, the statement noted.

This decision was made during the fourth meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee on Tuesday, chaired by Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Srinivas Katikithala.

The allocated houses aim to fulfill the housing requirements of the urban poor, ensuring they gain access to affordable and dignified pucca homes equipped with essential amenities, as indicated in the statement.

During the meeting, Katikithala encouraged states and UTs to focus on integrating housing projects with infrastructure corridors to foster comprehensive urban development. He emphasized, “States/UTs should strategically design and position housing projects in regions that offer enhanced connectivity, economic opportunities, and improved access to services.”

The JS&MD, HFA updated the Secretary on the implementation status of PMAY-U 2.0, highlighting that larger states, specifically metro regions, should present proposals to the CSMC with an emphasis on affordable housing in partnership (AHP), where group housing projects are developed.

To date, over 120 lakh houses have received approval, with 93.81 lakh pucca houses already constructed and delivered to beneficiaries. In alignment with the vision of ‘Housing for All,’ the scheme was revitalized and relaunched as PMAY-U 2.0 in September 2024. An additional one crore urban families will benefit from government financial support of up to Rs 2.50 lakh for constructing or purchasing a pucca house in urban areas. Families from the economically weaker sections, lower-income groups, and middle-income groups who do not currently own a pucca house anywhere in the country qualify for benefits under PMAY-U 2.0.

Noteworthy discussions during the meeting included a focus on women’s empowerment and fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. Approximately 75,417 houses have been allocated specifically for women, including single women and widows, reaffirming the government’s dedication to granting women access to safe and dignified living conditions. Moreover, Uttar Pradesh has allocated 1,166 houses for senior citizens.

Additionally, 12 houses have been designated for transgender individuals. Among other marginalized groups, 32,551 houses were designated for SC beneficiaries, 5,025 houses for ST beneficiaries, and 58,375 houses for the OBC category.

Individuals who qualify can apply for the scheme directly through https://pmay-urban.gov.in/ or reach out to their Urban Local Body (ULB) for assistance.