AHMEDABAD: After almost a decade, the cry for affordable housing by the urban middle-class and lower-middle class has literally shaken the state government which does not want to take any chances in this election year.

Recently, the state urban development department (UDD) via a notification has allowed residential buildings as tall as 70 metres for Gujarat Housing Board (GHB) schemes. This is something unthinkable in a state post 2001 earthquake where residential buildings have barely managed to cross the 40m height. The height provision is only allowed for GHB residential schemes and is extended to the two GHB land parcels in Hathijan and one land parcel located at the new transport node in the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

"It's purely the wish of the GHB if they want to have buildings of 70m height. We've allowed the GHB a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 3.0 and there is no need for them to pay any premiums against this. Normally constructions in Gujarat are only allowed an FSI of 1.8. This strategy will go a long way towards providing affordable housing for a large chunk of middle class," said a senior urban development officer.

Housing commissioner, GHB, A K Rakesh told TOI, "We had issued tenders seeking expression of interest from consultants last year in June for designing these schemes for us and then again in May this year, the UDD's notification allowed a height of 70m for GHB housing schemes. There will be two GHB residential schemes in Rajkot and one each in Vadodara and Surat. We have no concept of 'super built-up area' and buyers will be offered houses in the area range of 40 sq m, 60 sq m and 80 sq m."

Added a senior urban development official: "Does the government know how much land it holds and their locations in various cities and towns under Urban Land Ceiling Act? These huge land parcels were to be utilized for urban poor housing. Many such land parcels are located amid posh localities of cities. But is the government prepared to make housing societies for the poor in rich neighborhoods?"