Andhra Pradesh has become the state to receive the highest amount of funds under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) while Uttar Pradesh has received the second-highest allocation.
According to a statement made by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri in the Rajya Sabha, the AP government received a total of Rs 30,731 crore under the scheme.
Of the total amount sanctioned to the state, Rs 9,311 crore has already been released. The government used the amount to construct 3,60,325 houses. It has now been given funds worth Rs 22,650 crore with which to construct 15.1 lakh houses. UP on the other hand has constructed 7.02 lakh houses for which Rs 15,128 crore had been given to it.
AP recently bagged third place in the 'Best Performing State Category' for its successful implementation of the PMAY scheme, and also received awards for its 'project monitoring tools' and 'innovative construction technology' from the Centre.
Providing subsidised housing to the people of the state seems to be a priority for Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and his government. Making a virtual appearance at the recently-held 69th Town and Country Planners' Conference, the CM asked AP's housing department officials to focus on developing a comprehensive
system of affordable housing for AP's middle-class and lower-middle-class population. The state government is currently developing 16,098 EWS housing colonies in urban pockets.