CIDCO to construct over one lakh affordable houses in Sanpada

City planning agency CIDCO will build 1.09 lakh affordable apartments on 568 acres in Navi Mumbai in what would be the biggest-ever housing project by any government body in the state.

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) presented a proposal, prepared under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna, last week during a meeting with the state chief secretary and got a go-ahead, officials told DNA.

"This is a huge land parcel in Sanpada. It will be like a big township with all modern facilities. Already 1.1 lakh homes are being built by CIDCO under PMAY and the addition of these homes will take the figure to close to 2.2 lakh homes," said Lokesh Chandra, managing director of the state-run infra body.

Under PMAY, the Centre aims to provide housing for all. This scheme entitles one for a subsidy provided they do not own a pucca house anywhere in the country.

For the Sanpada project, authorities have identified the land, said a senior CIDCO official. "We are soon going to verify the status of the plot. The drawing for the construction of the homes is ready." The homes will be built for the economically weaker section and lower income group. Officials declined to estimate the cost of the project saying it is in the initial stage.

Chandra said the homes currently being built by CIDCO are in areas that are close to rail stations or have better connectivity.

While the demand for housing in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is on the rise, there are lakhs of homes lying unoccupied due to high cost.

Experts say more and more people are looking for properties in the affordable sector.

Last year, CIDCO had announced a lottery for 14,800 homes, and this year it plans to sell 90,000 apartments through random selection. The planning agency last week applied for registration of 8,000 flats with housing regulator MahaRERA, said an official.

"The remaining homes will soon get registered with MahaRERA as there are some approvals, particularly environmental clearances, pending. Once they are in, the registration will be complete," said the official.

He said CIDCO is keen on announcing the lottery for all 90,000 homes before the Model Code for the assembly elections kicks in. "The entire machinery is trying to get the registration done, post which conducting the lottery will be possible."