Officials stated that the second phase of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) would soon be launched, with the allocation for the scheme expected to be made in the Union budget the following month. An official from the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry mentioned that the modalities of PMAY-U 2.0 were currently under development, with the second phase scheduled for launch within a month.
According to the official, the plan is to construct over 10 million houses in urban areas, aiming to extend assistance to a greater number of urban families. "The upcoming phase of the scheme will be launched soon, building upon the insights gained from the first phase of PMAY-U and focusing on improved targeting and expedited disbursement," the official added.
Another official indicated that PMAY-U 2.0 is expected to encompass three categories: the economically weaker section (EWS), the low-income group (LIG), and the middle-income group (MIG). In its first meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 10, the Union Cabinet of the Modi 3.0 government approved government support for the construction of 30 million houses under PMAY.
PMAY-U was inaugurated by Modi on June 25, 2015, with the vision of 'Housing for All'. According to the ministry, over the course of nine years, PMAY-U has significantly impacted the lives of millions of families, for whom owning a pucca house was once only a distant aspiration. The government has been implementing PMAY since 2015-16 to provide assistance to eligible rural and urban households for constructing houses with basic amenities.
The ministry stated that out of the 11.4 million houses grounded for construction, more than 8.4 million have already been completed and delivered to beneficiaries. As part of the scheme, 9.4 million houses have been registered in the name of women. Additionally, around 2.5 million houses are under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, one of the scheme's four verticals, according to an official.
"The PMAY-U promotes women's empowerment by facilitating home ownership in the name of female members or jointly. Over 9.4 million houses have been allocated in the name of women, thereby granting them a sense of identity," the ministry affirmed. It also highlighted that PMAY-U advocates for the adoption of new construction technologies on a large scale. The Light House Projects (LHPs) in six locations across the country exemplify the promotion of affordable housing projects constructed using innovative technologies, which can be replicated nationwide.
The ministry noted that the LHPs in Chennai, Rajkot, Indore, Lucknow, and Ranchi have already been inaugurated by the prime minister, while construction in Agartala is progressing well towards completion.
