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The Odisha government has initiated a statewide exercise to identify vacant and underutilised government buildings in urban areas for conversion into affordable rental housing. The move is part of the Affordable Rental Housing component under PM Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 and aims to support migrants, urban poor, and working populations who depend on rental accommodation. State departments have been directed to share details of unused properties with the Odisha Urban Housing Mission. The programme will use both retrofitting of existing buildings and construction through public and private participation.
The Odisha government has begun identifying vacant and underutilised government-owned buildings across urban areas with the objective of converting them into affordable rental housing units. This initiative forms part of the Affordable Rental Housing component under the PM Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 framework and is aimed at improving access to formal rental housing for low-income households. Advertisement
The Housing and Urban Development Department has instructed all state departments to conduct an internal assessment of buildings that are no longer in active use. These departments have been asked to submit details of such properties to the Odisha Urban Housing Mission, which will evaluate their suitability for conversion into rental housing.
According to the state's housing policy framework, the affordable rental housing component is intended to address the needs of urban migrants, industrial workers, informal sector employees, and individuals who are not in a position to purchase homes. The focus is on providing safe and regulated rental accommodation at reasonable rates in cities where demand for rental housing continues to grow.
The PMAY-Urban 2.0 guidelines outline two implementation models for affordable rental housing. The first involves the conversion of existing vacant government-funded buildings into rental units, either through public agencies or via public-private partnership arrangements. The second model allows public or private entities to construct, operate, and manage new rental housing projects, with cost recovery through rental income over time.
Once selected, vacant buildings will undergo repairs and upgrades to make them suitable for residential use. Local authorities will determine rental rates based on local housing demand and affordability assessments. Provisions have been made for periodic rent revisions within defined limits to ensure long-term operational sustainability without burdening tenants.
State officials expect that the reuse of idle government buildings will help meet housing demand without requiring additional land acquisition. The approach is also intended to prevent the growth of informal housing and improve living conditions for urban residents who rely on rental accommodation.
The initiative follows similar efforts undertaken in other states under the Affordable Rental Housing Complexes programme, where unused housing stock has been repurposed to support economically weaker sections and migrant workers, particularly in urban and industrial regions.
Source PTI
FAQ
Q1. What initiative has the Odisha government launched regarding vacant buildings?
The Odisha government has started a statewide exercise to identify vacant and underutilised government-owned buildings in urban areas for conversion into affordable rental housing. This move is aimed at making better use of existing public assets while addressing the growing demand for formal rental accommodation among low-income and working populations in cities.
Q2. Which scheme does this programme fall under?
The initiative is part of the Affordable Rental Housing component under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban 2.0. This component focuses specifically on providing rental housing solutions for people who are unable to buy homes but require secure and affordable accommodation in urban centres.
Q3. Who are the intended beneficiaries of these rental housing units?
The programme is designed to support urban migrants, industrial and construction workers, informal sector employees, and other low-income households who depend on rental housing. These groups often face challenges accessing safe and regulated rental options, especially in cities with rising housing costs and limited supply.
Q4. How is the state identifying suitable buildings for conversion?
The Housing and Urban Development Department has directed all state departments to review their property portfolios and identify buildings that are vacant or no longer in active use. Details of these properties are being submitted to the Odisha Urban Housing Mission, which will assess their location, condition, and feasibility for conversion into residential rental units.
Q5. What are the implementation models proposed under PMAY-Urban 2.0?
There are two main models under the affordable rental housing framework. One involves retrofitting and converting existing vacant government-funded buildings into rental units, either through public agencies or public-private partnerships. The second allows public or private entities to construct, operate, and manage new rental housing projects, with costs recovered through rental income over time.
Q6. How will rents be decided and what impact is the initiative expected to have?
Rental rates will be fixed by local authorities based on city-specific demand and affordability assessments, with provisions for periodic revisions within defined limits. By reusing idle government buildings, the initiative is expected to meet housing demand without additional land acquisition, reduce reliance on informal housing, and improve living conditions for urban residents who depend on rental accommodation.
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