India needs Rs 3.61 lakhs investment in housing

The government today said the country needs investment to the tune of Rs 3,61,000 crore to meet the shortage of nearly 25 million housing units. "There was approximately housing shortage of 24.7 million dwelling units at the beginning of the 11th Five year plan... The investment requirements would be to the tune of Rs 3,61,000 crore for overcoming this massive housing shortage," Minister of State for Urban Development Seagate Roy said at the CII real estate concave here. Of the total housing requirement, about 99 per cent is constituted by the economically weaker section and the low income groups, he added. "The massive urbanisation in the past few decades has led to severe housing shortage for the urban poor... Providing affordable housing is one of the most formidable challenges that our country faces today," Roy said. He said availability of land at cheap rates is the greatest challenge in providing affordable housing in the country. Measures like increasing density by hiking the floor-area ratio and encouraging public-private partnership should be considered in fulfilling the housing need of the country. "The government has sought to create an enabling and supportive environment for expanding credit flow to the housing sector and increasing home ownership in the country," Roy said.