New Delhi: Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Manohar Lal, inaugurated the national workshop on Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0) today in New Delhi. The workshop, organized by the Ministry in collaboration with Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd (HUDCO), brought together policymakers, administrators, and stakeholders from across the country to discuss the roadmap for realizing India’s vision of “Housing for All.”
The event witnessed the presence of Kuldip Narayan, Joint Secretary and Mission Director (JS&MD), Housing for All; Sanjay Kulshrestha, CMD, HUDCO; and senior officials from the Ministry, alongside Principal Secretaries and PMAY-U Mission Directors from various States and Union Territories.
Manohar Lal lauded the transformational impact of PMAY-U and emphasized the scheme’s pivotal role in fulfilling the aspirations of millions. “Owning a pucca house is a dream for every family. PMAY has been a visionary step by the Prime Minister to bring that dream closer to reality, transforming lives and empowering families with dignity and better living conditions,” he remarked. He also highlighted PMAY-U 2.0’s potential to generate over three crore employment opportunities and its broader economic impact.
The Minister emphasized responsive governance and effective implementation to ensure the benefits of PMAY-U 2.0 reach the most deserving households. He commended the significant contributions of States and Union Territories in driving the scheme’s success, urging them to continue their dedicated efforts in achieving the ambitious goals of PMAY-U 2.0.
A major highlight of PMAY-U 2.0 is the inclusion of Affordable Rental Housing, introduced to cater to working women and industrial workers who may not opt for home construction due to financial or other constraints. “Financial challenges should not prevent anyone from accessing dignified living conditions. The rental housing vertical provides a much-needed solution,” Manohar Lal stated.
The workshop, themed on the effective implementation of PMAY-U 2.0, facilitated discussions on strategies and reforms essential for its success. Over 250 officials and stakeholders from the affordable housing sector participated in the event, which aimed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Key sessions focused on areas such as affordable housing policies, innovative construction technologies, promotion of rental housing, and sustainable urban planning. Officials from various States and Union Territories presented best practices, shared success stories, and discussed strategies to address challenges, ensuring efficient and inclusive implementation of the scheme.
The event also marked the unveiling of a unified web portal for PMAY-U 2.0, designed to streamline application processes and improve accessibility for beneficiaries. The portal will enable applicants to track their application status and facilitate faster due diligence, subsidy disbursement, and monitoring of the scheme.
Kuldip Narayan provided an overview of PMAY-U’s achievements, noting that over 90 lakh houses have already been constructed under the scheme. He emphasized that PMAY-U 2.0 builds upon these successes with new strategies, innovations, and partnerships to ensure every family has access to a pucca house and an improved quality of life.
Sanjay Kulshrestha reaffirmed HUDCO’s commitment to supporting the implementation of PMAY-U 2.0, emphasizing the organization’s integral role in providing home loans and other financial support under the scheme.
Launched in September 2024, PMAY-U 2.0 aims to construct one crore new houses for urban families, addressing the housing needs of economically weaker sections, low-income groups, and middle-income groups, as well as marginalized communities such as SC/STs, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
The scheme is structured around four key verticals: Beneficiary-Led Construction, Affordable Housing in Partnership, Affordable Rental Housing, and the Interest Subsidy Scheme. Special focus will be given to vulnerable groups, including sanitation workers, artisans under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Scheme, and street vendors identified under the PMSVANidhi Scheme.
With the integration of modern, green technologies and a collaborative approach among States, Union Territories, and local urban bodies, PMAY-U 2.0 aspires to create a sustainable and inclusive affordable housing ecosystem. The workshop reinforced India’s commitment to achieving “Housing for All” by 2026, transforming the urban housing landscape and uplifting millions of lives.