Ministry seeks infrastructure status for housing sector

The Union housing ministry is set to approach the finance ministry to seek infrastructure status for the housing sector — a proposal that was rejected earlier. The coveted status will make the sector eligible for sops and will bring down the cost of housing,significantly benefitting low-cost housing schemes.

“The meeting is on July 31 and we will present more data to pitch for infrastructure status,” said Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Girija Vyas. The ministry has received Rs 35,000 crore from the finance ministry to help construct two million low-cost housing units across India.

“We also want private players to participate in bringing up housing units for the economically weaker sections,” said Vyas.

The ministry is modifying all its major schemes,including the Rajiv Awas Yojana for rehabilitation of slum dwellers,Rajiv Rinn Yojana for providing interest subsidy on housing loans,Affordable Housing in Partnership scheme to attract private players in housing and the National Urban Livelihoods Mission to boost the employment potential of the urban poor.