Chennai, Dec 21 (NationPress) With the 2026 Assembly election on the horizon, the DMK administration is accelerating efforts to finalize the second phase of the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam (KKI) housing initiative — a ₹3,500-crore project designed to replace temporary shelters with durable homes across rural Tamil Nadu.

As reported by officials, the construction is nearing completion, with 25,657 families already residing in the newly constructed houses, while another 74,343 units are in the final stages of development.

The government has set an ambitious timeline, assuring that all remaining beneficiaries will receive their residences by the first week of February.

“The second phase is expected to be fully delivered by early February,” confirmed a senior official from the panchayat raj and rural development department.

The implementation pace is being monitored by top bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam and Principal Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi, who are conducting weekly reviews — a notable intensity for a rural housing initiative, emphasizing its significance within the government’s welfare strategy.

Initiated in March 2024, the Kanavu Illam project aims to achieve a ‘hut-free Tamil Nadu’ by 2030. A governmental survey previously identified nearly eight lakh huts statewide, showcasing the magnitude of the housing shortage this initiative intends to tackle.

A unique aspect of KKI is its beneficiary-driven construction model. Rather than awarding large contracts, the government directly transfers funds in four installments to chosen families, enabling them to hire laborers and manage construction independently. Each household receives ₹3.5 lakh in assistance.

This method, officials note, minimizes delays and provides beneficiaries with enhanced control over construction quality and timelines. The scheme has witnessed significant interest, particularly in northern districts such as Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, and Villupuram, as well as in the delta region — areas with a higher density of hut settlements.

If the government adheres to its self-imposed February deadline, it will represent a considerable achievement: one lakh homes completed in the second phase alone, with the total number of beneficiaries reaching two lakh since the program's inception.

As Tamil Nadu approaches election season, this accomplishment is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the DMK’s campaign narrative, presenting the party with a substantial welfare success story that reflects both scale and community involvement in transforming rural housing.