Those on a house hunt will soon have cause to cheer. According to a Government Resolution (GR) from the urban development (UD) department on January 31
Those on a house hunt will soon have cause to cheer. According to a Government Resolution (GR) from the urban development (UD) department on January 31 , the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) will soon develop affordable housing for the economically weaker section (EWS), low-income group (LIG) and middle-income group (MIG) in various parts of the city.
The projects will consist of joint venture with builders, who will be allowed to sell a certain amount of space commercially. 
Housing for all: Mhada says it wants to introduce projects where
the estimated rate of a flat will be Rs 2,000 per square foot, much
lower than the market rates. Representation pic
The project plan of the proposed housing societies will require approval from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Rajendra Nimbalkar, chief officer of Mhada's Pune Board, said: "It would re-introduce the now extinct 1 BHK houses in the city and that too at genuinely affordable rates. Mhada's role will also change to a facilitator for developing low-cost housing.
The estimated rate of a flat will be Rs 2,000 per sq ft which is much lower than the existing rates. The primary rationale behind the GR was to counter the current problem of unavailability of land. Land acquisition cost will be nil since land will belong to private landowners and developers. Mhada will only charge the administrative cost involved and the construction cost."
Nimbalkar said the buildings are expected to have 12 to 15 floors along with other public amenities like clubhouses and recreation spaces for children. He also said that Mhada has received enthusiastic response from reputable builders from Wakad, Baner, Pimple Saudagar and Pashan to participate in the project.u00a0u00a0
Promising 1-BHKs: Rajendra Nimbalkar, chief officer, MHADA
A hearing presided by the Deputy Director of Town Planning will also be held in the next 15 days to receive any objections and suggestions. Construction work on the project is project is estimated to start in the next three months.
The schemes will have reservations for Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes and 2 per cent reservation for the journalistic fraternity.
Sadhana Naik, assistant town planning director, said that they were hopeful of successfully completing the hearing. "The report of the hearing will be sent to the Urban Development Department (UDD) in Mumbai and we will then await appropriate directions from them. These projects will go a long way in changing the real estate face of the city", added Naik.
Builders in the city also lauded the scheme saying it would serve two purposes at the same time. "This is definitely a very good scheme by the government. They are trying to give lucrative business to the developers on one hand and also providing cheap and affordable housing to the common man at the same time", said Dinesh Joshi, deputy general manager with Kalpataru.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
An additional Floor Space Index (FSI) of 1.5 will be given which will have to be shared on a 50:50 basis between the developer and Mhada. The developer must use his share of FSI for the construction and market sale of houses for EWS and LIG categories.
Mhada story
Year Mhada was established in city: 1977
First colony (constructed in Yerawada): 1985
Homes built for low- and middle-income groups in last 25 years: 20,000
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