With implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) moving at a snail’s pace, the state housing department has now set up a Project Monitoring Unit to oversee implementation of the scheme.
Since its launch in 2015, the Central Monitoring Sanctioning Committee (CSMC) has sanctioned 1,494 projects for construction of 6.35 lakh dwelling units, of which only 1.45 lakh have been completed as of August 2023.
Besides, the CSMC had sanctioned two projects under ISSR (SRA) for 1.42 lakh dwelling units and one project under JNNURM for 29,952 houses. Under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, it had sanctioned 6.22 lakh houses. In all, 14 lakh dwelling units have been sanctioned for Maharashtra.
The state government had estimated a housing shortage of 19.4 lakh units across 392 cities and towns. As on July 31, the scheme has received 5,354 crore in assistance from the Centre and state government, and has spent Rs 4,899 crore.
“The performance of PMAY has been dismal,” said Shweta Damle, Director, Habitat & Livelihood Welfare Association. “PMAY has been implemented in Thane, Panvel, Dombivli, but nothing in Mumbai,” she said.
Damle said while the scheme is to be promoted through four verticals, only one involving private partnership has been promoted. Ajit Gore, a real estate industry consultant, said one of the biggest hurdles has been feasibility.
“The scheme allows 2.5 Floor Space Index (FSI) which can be consumed only if you construct 26-28 storey highrise buildings… A four-storey building is feasible,” he said.