[ecis2016.org] We take a look at how infrastructure development in the leading metro cities, has improved connectivity to upcoming destinations, thereby, boosting the government’s stated policy of creating ‘Housing for All by 2022’
One of the major initiatives taken by the Modi government, is to promote the policy of ‘Housing for All by 2022’. India has a shortage of 18.8 million urban homes for the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) period. This includes housing the economically weaker and lower income groups – an area where developers hardly focus, due to low margins.
You are reading: Infrastructure development proven to boost affordable housing
Translating the affordable housing initiative into actionable targets, would involve the construction of close to two million homes every year. Compare this, with the actual delivery of 1.2 million homes annually during the 11th five-year plan period (ending March 2012), and the target clearly appears formidable.
Raising the delivery targets of central/state housing boards may not be the way to go, given the lack of availability of large land holdings within city centres with such agencies and their slack delivery track records. One effective alternative, appears to be the expansion of the infrastructure network, thereby, opening up new and relatively cheaper land parcels for real estate development that will attract private participation.
What home buyers prefer
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Home buyers typically prefer to stay closer to locations near established commercial developments that also have good social infrastructure. An alternative for those who cannot afford homes in such areas, is to look for locations that have good connectivity to the more established sub-markets. Often, such affordable housing options have skipped established locations and have come up in sub-markets that do not have adequate trunk infrastructure.
[ecis2016.org] ‘Better infrastructure can solve India’s urban housing shortage’
JLL’s recent research report ‘Indian Real Estate: Coming to terms with varying speeds of growth’, studied 30 infrastructure projects that became operational in recent years, across the leading seven cities. Although new airport projects are considered catalysts for opening up new areas in city peripheries, they may not guarantee the development of affordable housing, as their gestation period is huge and connectivity to existing established locations improves only gradually. By that time, speculative activity makes the location relatively unaffordable.
Impact of infrastructure projects
On the other hand, projects such as the metro rail, ring roads and highways, etc., offer improved connectivity to the existing city establishments and are more suitable to the immediate needs of budget-conscious home buyers.
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The following table identifies seven ongoing infrastructure projects, in each of the top seven cities that have the potential to promote affordable housing:
| MMR* | Delhi-NCR* | Bengaluru | Chennai | Pune | Hyderabad | Kolkata | |
| Infrastructure project | Metro line (CBD Belapur-Kharghar-Taloja) | Metro line extension (Noida to Greater Noida) | Metro line (Nagasandra-Puttenahalli) | Metro line (Alandur to Meenambakkam) | Ring Road Phase-1 (Theurphata-Wagholi-NH50) | Metro line (Miyapur to SR Nagar) | Metro line (Joka to Esplanade) |
| Location for affordable housing | Taloja and adjacent areas | Noida Extension, Greater Noida | Huskur and adjacent areas | Alandur and Arumbakkam | Wagholi, Bhavdi, Tulapur, Alandi | Miyapur-Chandanagar belt | New Town Action Area III |
| Prices applicable currently | INR 4,000-5,500 psft BUA | INR 3,100-3,500 psft BUA | INR 3,500-5,000 psft BUA | INR 4,000-7,000 psft BUA | INR 3,000-4,500 psft BUA | INR 2,500-3,200 psft BUA | INR 3,600-5,500 psft BUA |
| Prices in more established locations in close proximity | INR 7,500-9,000 psft BUA | INR 5,200-5,800 psft BUA | INR 7,000-8,000 psft BUA | INR 7,500-10,000 psft BUA | INR 6,000-7,500 psft BUA | INR 4,500-5,200 psft BUA | INR 6,000-9,000 psft BUA |
| Targeted completion year | 2017 | 2017 | 2017 | 2017 | 2019 | End-2016 | 2019 |
Source: JLL Research; Note: psft BUA = per sq ft on built-up (or saleable) area; * MMR = Mumbai Metropolitan Region and NCR = National Capital Region
The table above clearly shows that new residential corridors, emerging from the construction of a metro line or ring road, are almost half as expensive as the more established residential corridors in the vicinity. They offer a good opportunity, not only for people seeking a house at affordable prices, but also investors and developers who seek new avenues for growth. Thus, with minimal interference from the central and state housing promotion boards, affordable housing gets created naturally and profitably. Both, affordable housing and infrastructure development are mandates of the government, although the creation of the latter in a focused, time-bound and consistent manner can spur the former too.
(The writer is AVP – research and real estate intelligence service, JLL India)
Source: https://ecis2016.org/.
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Source: https://ecis2016.org
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