GOVT. APPROVAL ON CARDS FOR 3RD PHASE OF 85,000 ARMED FORCES DWELLING UNITS, SECONDARY STEEL PRODUCERS COULD SELL THEIR STEEL FOR SUCH HOUSING UNDER GOVT. GUIDELINES: DGMAP

Directorate General of Married Accommodation Project (DGMAP) will shortly begin its third phase for constructing 85,000 dwelling units for all ranks of armed forces at pan India level in close partnership with private builders and consultants with an investment of Rs.25,000 crores, in which steel supplies could also be sourced from secondary steel producers, disclosed its DG-MAP, Maj. Gen. Sanjeev Jain.

Addressing a Conference on Infrastructure Status to Affordable Housing- A Game Changer under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, Mr. Jain, however, informed that a cabinet note to this effect could be moved very soon for seeking necessary government’s approval for the job.

He hoped that with this cabinet approval forthcoming soon, the MAP with concerned stakeholders would be able to begin constructing such dwelling units in next few months with all necessary permissions in its possession.

Maj. Gen. Jain also informed that MAP would offer rewarding conditions for its house building builders who promise timely delivery with quality par excellence and accordingly be incentivised with 10% mobilizing advance amount of the total cost of the project with an interest element not exceeding 8%.

“The first phase of construction of dwelling units for armed forces have already been completed with 60,000 units.   In the second phase the MAP would build close to 70,000 houses of which construction of 40,000 houses have also been completed and the remaining 30,000 such houses would be completed by next year”, said Maj. Gen. Jain.

In the third phase in which MAP would build 85,000 dwelling units, it could permit the use of steel from secondary steel producers as per guidelines enunciated by the government with their primary steel manufacturers, explained Maj. Gen. Jain.

Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director, National Housing Bank, Dr. A K Tripathi emphasised that with conferment of infrastructure status on affordable housing, opportunities have arisen for institutions like EPFO and insurance companies to earmark a handsome chunk of their funds for long term infrastructure projects and affordable housing is being one such in their scheme of things.

The conference was presided over by Sr. Vice President, PHD Chamber, Mr. Anil Khaitan in which Co-Chairman, Housing & Urban Development Committee, PHD Chamber, Mr. Anuj Khanna including its Director, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta were present.