The Times of India             27.09.2013

New urban housing scheme notified

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Thursday notified revised scheme for urban housing introducing a fourth model of creating cheap houses in addition to changing certain stipulations in the existing models.

The Revised Urban Housing Scheme 2013, which replaces the Scheme for Affordable Urban Housing in Odisha 2012, introduced a housing model called voluntary social housing scheme.

Under the model 4, being popularly referred to as McDonalds model by the developers, builders voluntarily creating stock of affordable housing will get approval in a super-fast mode besides incentives and relaxations. Such projects will get approval, including permission for land usage change and layout plan, within 60 days.

The developers have to reserve 50% housing stock for economically weaker sections (EWS) category and follow an overall price cap of Rs 15 lakh for any unit. They will also get relaxation in floor area ratio (FAR) by 0.25%.

The existing scheme has three models. Under model 1, Odisha State Housing Board ( OSHB) will reserve 60 per cent total built-up area in its projects at the rate of 15% each for EWS, LIG, lower middle income group (LMIG) having Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 monthly income) MIG (Rs 20,001 to Rs 25,000). In return, the government will offer it land at concession.

Under Model 2 (voluntary development on private land), developers who will earmark 65% built-up area of projects on private land for the EWS and LIG categories will be allowed to use unreserved portion for commercial purpose and will be free to raise the building to any height. In the 2012 scheme, developers had to ear mark 60 per cent for such categories under the model.

Under Model 3 (private development on government land), government will offer government land to private builders through competitive bidding. The bidders promising maximum number of housing units will get the land.

The government also changed mandatory reservation for EWS category in housing projects by private developers from 15 per cent to 10%.