Gujarat completes 96 pc of approved houses under PMAY-U, wins three national awards
Gandhinagar, Oct 14 (IANS) Gujarat has completed 96 per cent of the houses approved under the beneficiary-led construction component of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), earning the state one of three national awards for urban housing and planning, the state government said on Wednesday.
The awards, conferred by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, recognise Gujarat’s implementation of housing reforms, completion of houses for beneficiaries and procedures followed under the town planning scheme.
Urban Development and Urban Housing Department Secretary Remya Mohan received the awards on behalf of the state from Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, at a ceremony in New Delhi.
Gujarat received the first award in the category of ‘State with the Highest Number of Reforms Achieved under PMAY (U) 2.0’.
The ministry had proposed around 14 reforms covering land, urban planning, regulatory procedures, digital technology and financial mechanisms to make affordable housing more accessible, faster and transparent.
Gujarat was recognised for implementing the highest number of these reforms among states.
The second award was for the highest completion of houses under the Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC) component of PMAY-U.
Gujarat has completed 96 per cent of the houses approved under this component, the highest completion rate in the country, according to the state government.
The third award recognised Gujarat’s practices in implementing Town Planning Scheme (TPS) procedures under the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976.
Under the mechanism, residential zones are designated and 10 per cent of plots are reserved for Socially and Economically Weaker Sections (SEWS), with the aim of making land available for affordable housing in urban areas.
Urban Development Minister Kanu Desai said Gujarat had approved 11.14 lakh houses under PMAY-U, of which construction of more than 9.30 lakh had been completed.
“More than 1.50 lakh additional houses had been approved under PMAY-U 2.0, launched in 2025-26, extending the scheme’s coverage to more urban families,” he said.
Desai said the three awards reflected the state government’s efforts in urban development and the welfare of economically weaker sections under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
He attributed the recognition to teamwork and the government’s governance policies.
Minister of State for Urban Development, Darshna Vaghela, said: “Gujarat had received 14 national awards in urban housing between 2015-16 and 2026. With the latest three awards, the state’s total has risen to 17.”
Vaghela said the achievements reflected the state’s efforts towards faster and transparent governance.
“The government remained committed to providing vulnerable urban families with pucca houses and basic amenities to support a dignified life,” she added.
The awards come as Gujarat continues to implement PMAY-U and its successor, PMAY-U 2.0, to expand access to permanent housing in urban areas.
–IANS
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