PM Housing Scheme Plots in Shivpuri Face Slow Sales Amidst Incomplete Development

Housing Project Stalled by Slow Development and Lack of Buyers

In Shivpuri, an ambitious residential project under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Housing for All' scheme is facing significant hurdles. The project, located near the medical college, is experiencing slow progress and incomplete development work, leading to a severe shortage of buyers for over a thousand plots allocated under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) scheme.

The Shivpuri Municipality has issued multiple advertisements, four to five times, for the sale of MIG, LIG, and other categories of plots. However, the number of interested buyers has remained significantly lower than anticipated. Local residents point to the extremely slow pace of essential infrastructure development on-site as the primary reason for this lack of interest.

Inadequate Basic Facilities Deterring Potential Buyers

Citizens argue that crucial amenities like roads, electricity, water supply, drainage, and parks should be developed before selling plots in a residential colony. However, proposed development work, aligned with the Town and Country Planning (TCP) plan, remains incomplete. In many areas, the condition of roads and the electricity supply is unsatisfactory, causing darkness after sunset and raising security concerns.

Local residents believe that sales efforts will not succeed until the colony is fully developed and livable. Currently, people are hesitant to invest in locations where immediate living facilities are unavailable. The pricing of the plots has also become a point of discussion, with smaller plots priced around ₹15 lakh and larger ones around ₹22 lakh. Considering the area is about three kilometers from the city and lacks adequate basic amenities, it's a major question how this pricing will attract common people.

Affordability Questioned for Low-Income Housing Scheme

The core objective of the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme is to provide affordable housing for economically weaker sections and low-income groups. Therefore, when determining prices, it's essential to consider the area's current facilities, connectivity, and surrounding development. The current pricing appears contradictory to the scheme's affordability goals.

Construction Delays Plague PM Housing Units

Alongside the AHP scheme, the pace of housing construction under the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme is also a cause for concern. While the target was to construct over a thousand houses, only about 600 have been completed so far. The construction of the remaining houses has been stalled for a considerable time.

According to locals, many beneficiaries have deposited the required amount for their homes but have yet to receive them. Allegations of non-payment to contractors by those involved in the construction work have surfaced, cited as a major reason for the sluggish progress. The delay in construction directly impacts the intended beneficiaries who are awaiting their homes.

Lack of Basic Amenities Compounds Housing Issues

The deficiency in basic facilities such as electricity, water, and roads at the project site, in addition to incomplete housing construction, is causing considerable distress. If essential infrastructure is not developed concurrently with housing construction, the scheme's fundamental purpose of providing dignified housing to needy families could be jeopardized. Simply building houses is insufficient; timely availability of necessary amenities is crucial for making a residential area habitable.

Local Demand: Prioritize Development Over Plot Sales

Local citizens have urged the municipality to prioritize completing all necessary development work, including roads, electricity, water supply, and lighting, before focusing on plot sales. Without the assurance of these facilities, it is unlikely that plot sales will gain momentum. Furthermore, they are demanding a pragmatic review of the plot prices.

They believe that if the municipality develops the scheme systematically and provides the facilities, it will not only boost buyer confidence but also enable beneficiaries to occupy the houses being built under the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme on time. Currently, due to incomplete development and slow construction, this residential project appears to be far from achieving its stated objectives.