Housing – Andhra Pradesh Accelerates Affordable Housing Push With Major Project Progress
Housing – Affordable housing development in Andhra Pradesh continues to gain momentum as the state government reports significant progress in completing and delivering homes to economically weaker sections, while thousands of additional housing units remain under various stages of construction.
The Andhra Pradesh government has stated that it has completed and handed over nearly 4.5 lakh houses to beneficiaries during the past two years. In addition, around 4 lakh housing units are currently being built across different parts of the state, reflecting a renewed focus on expanding access to permanent housing for low-income families.
Government Highlights Housing as a Social Priority
Addressing the media on Thursday, Housing and Information Minister Kolusu Parthasaradhi said the administration remains committed to ensuring that every eligible poor family has access to a home. According to him, home ownership plays a crucial role in strengthening social security and improving the overall quality of life for families.
The minister noted that housing is not merely about providing shelter. He described it as a key factor in promoting financial stability, dignity, and long-term security for households. He added that the state government is working to ensure that housing benefits reach all deserving beneficiaries without delay.
Expansion of Housing Initiatives
Parthasaradhi said the present administration has continued and expanded housing efforts inspired by the vision of former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao. Under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, housing programmes have been widened to include all eligible families who meet the required criteria.
Apart from completing unfinished projects inherited from previous years, the government has also introduced fresh measures aimed at reducing the housing gap. Officials have been directed to identify eligible households and ensure that support reaches those who have not yet benefited from existing schemes.
Earlier Housing Programmes and Financial Support
The minister recalled that between 2014 and 2019, the state sanctioned more than 8 lakh houses under various housing initiatives. During that period, construction assistance was fixed at ₹1.5 lakh for rural beneficiaries and ₹2.5 lakh for urban beneficiaries.
He also highlighted the NTR Housing Scheme, stating that it was introduced before the implementation of the national housing programme and focused on providing quality homes to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, minority communities, and other economically disadvantaged groups.
Criticism of Previous Administration
Parthasaradhi alleged that several housing projects were disrupted during the tenure of the previous government. He claimed that nearly 4 lakh sanctioned houses were cancelled and payments amounting to ₹995 crore for more than 2.7 lakh completed houses remained pending.
According to the minister, these developments created difficulties for a large number of poor families who were dependent on government assistance to complete construction. He said many beneficiaries, particularly those from vulnerable communities, were forced to stop work midway due to financial constraints.
Fast-Tracking Pending Housing Projects
The minister said that after the coalition government assumed office, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu instructed officials to speed up stalled housing projects and clear pending issues. As a result, 4.5 lakh houses have been completed within two years, while work on another 4 lakh units is progressing steadily.
To further support disadvantaged families, the government has also announced additional financial assistance of ₹50,000 for beneficiaries belonging to SC, ST, BC, and minority communities. Officials believe the extra support will help families complete construction faster and reduce financial pressure during the building process.