Chandigarh, August 6
Owning a flat may seem a far-fetched idea to the common man but Haryana’s ‘Affordable Policy 2013’ is set to change all that. With the Cabinet giving its nod to a policy for mass availability of dwelling units at rates that are easier on the common man’s pocket, a 500 sq ft flat will now cost Rs 20 lakh in the high potential towns of the state.

Under the policy, Town and Country Planning Department will grant licences to private builders for constructing group housing societies with the idea of increasing availability of affordable dwelling units in the urban housing market to the deserving beneficiaries.

The size of apartments to be constructed under the policy would be in the range of 28 sqm to 60 sqm carpet area. This is a departure from the regular sale of flats which is usually made on super area basis (this includes the common areas like staircases, corridors, etc).

The maximum allotment rate for the apartment units approved under such projects would be Rs 4,000 per sq ft of carpet area in the development plans of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Panchkula and Pinjore-Kalka; Rs 3,600 per sq ft in the development plans of other high and medium potential towns and Rs 3,000 per sq ft in the remaining low potential towns.

“As many as 1.25 lakh flats will be constructed under the policy. The licence will be granted with the pre-condition that the project will be completed within four years from the date of approval of the building plans or grant of environmental clearance. While the renewal of licence would not be allowed, coloniser would be required to furnish a bank guarantee against the total realisation from the project at the rate of 15 per cent for the areas falling in the development plans of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Panchkula, Panchkula Extension and Pinjore-Kalka and at the rate of 10 per cent for the rest of the towns,” Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, adding that Deputy Commissioners would handle the allotment of these units through a draw of lots.

The policy provides for several incentives in the form of exemption from licence fees and infrastructure development charges, permitting higher floor area ration (FAR) to the tune of 225 against 175 permitted in normal group housing projects and allowing higher ground coverage to the tune of 50 per cent against 35 per cent allowed in normal group housing projects.

“Under this policy, a 500 sq ft flat will cost Rs 20 lakh, 18 lakh and 15 lakh in the high, medium and low potential towns, respectively. The rates include external development charges and the IDC and are on carpet area. Since most colonisers are making flats to cater to the middle and higher income groups, this policy will bring much-needed flats for the lower income groups over the next five years,” said TC Gupta, Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning.

The policy lays down that anybody, who does not own a plot or a flat in any colony of Haryana Urban Development Authority, any licenced colony of Chandigarh or the NCR, is eligible for the scheme.