The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has taken a significant digital leap to simplify housing access for economically disadvantaged citizens. It has officially rolled out a dedicated online service aimed at streamlining the registration process for flats under the Low-Income Group (LIG) and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) categories.
Online Portal for Developers: Key Dates and Details
This new digital platform is designed specifically for private real estate developers. It allows them to submit all necessary details and documents for EWS and LIG units through a centralized online system. The service window for developers is set to be active from December 15, 2024, until January 15, 2025. This move is expected to bring transparency and efficiency to a process often marred by delays.
An official from the GDA confirmed that the initiative has already seen early adoption. One developer has utilized the online system to register a substantial 1,493 units under the EWS category and an equal number under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Cracking Down on Delays and Ensuring Compliance
To tackle the persistent issue of stalled projects, the GDA has constituted a special six-member committee. This committee's primary mandate is to investigate the reasons behind delays in both the construction and the final allotment of units reserved for EWS and LIG beneficiaries.
The authority has issued a stern warning to non-compliant builders. "We hope that more erring developers will come forward and follow suit, failing which they risk having their project's map approval cancelled," stated a GDA official. The official emphasized that there would be no relaxation in enforcing the rules, especially for projects intended for society's most vulnerable sections.
As per existing regulations, it is compulsory for group housing developers to allocate 10% of the total flats for EWS and another 10% for LIG categories. The GDA grants map sanctions only after developers formally commit to constructing these reserved units within a stipulated timeframe.
The Current State of Affordable Housing in Ghaziabad
Recent data from 2024 paints a concerning picture of the progress on the ground. Against a target of 4,860 EWS flats to be built by integrated township developers, only 1,717 have been constructed. Out of these built units, 1,455 have been allotted to beneficiaries. The situation is similarly challenging for LIG flats, where only 1,255 have been constructed out of the same target of 4,860.
In a positive development, after an eight-year wait, the GDA has finally begun handing over possession of units under its Maduban Bapudham housing schemes, which fall under PMAY. Over 300 beneficiaries have already received possession, with the remaining allotments currently in process.
The authority has also reported readiness in other schemes:
- Madhuban Bapudham: 856 units constructed.
- Pratap Vihar: 1,200 units ready.
- Noor Nagar: 480 units ready.
- Newari: 528 units ready for possession.
GDA officials have now been directed to compile a comprehensive report detailing the number of flats constructed by developers under these two categories and, crucially, how many are yet to be delivered to eligible applicants.
