Pune: 10,000 Applicants Await Draw As Reservation Change Eases Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Implementation

Pimpri, 3rd November 2023: The path to allotting 938 flats in the housing projects constructed in Pimpri and Akurdi under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has been unblocked. The Municipal Development Department has approved the PCMC’s proposal to alter the reservation purpose originally designated for homeless individuals in the development plan.

The housing project in Akurdi boasts a total of 568 flats, while Pimpri offers 370 flats, all constructed and completed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Now, the attention of the 10,000 citizens who applied for these flats shifts to the drawing of lots. However, a technical issue emerged due to the initial reservation of these spaces in the development plan as ‘houses for the homeless.’ To resolve this matter, the municipal administration opted to implement the scheme for houses for economically weaker sections, thereby substituting the previous reservation purpose. The proposal gained administrative approval on December 6, 2022, and was subsequently under consideration by the state’s urban development department.

With the urban development department’s endorsement of using the reserved area for housing economically weaker sections, the stage is set to conduct the drawing of lots for this Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana project.

During the Mahavikas Aghadi government, the proposal to change the reservation purpose had been put on hold, leading to delays in beneficiary selection even after project completion. However, the decision made under the Mahayuti government now streamlines the process of providing the scheme’s benefits to deserving recipients. MLA Mahesh Landge has urged the administration to expedite the drawing of lots and housing distribution to beneficiaries by the end of December.

Anna Bodde, Assistant Commissioner of the Slum Development Department, announced, “A total of 10,000 applications have been received for the 938 available flats across both projects. The application scrutiny and beneficiary selection process are in the final stages, with the draw scheduled to occur soon.”