Page 2 - Shelter - April 2025

SHELTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

April, 2025, Volume 26. No.1
www.hudco.org.in “We can overcome every challenge and build a prosperous Bharat and achieve the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047”
ISSN 2347-4912 Shri Narendra Modi, The Prime Minister of India
Transforming Housing and Urban Development to achieve the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047
Shelter is an official publication of As India strides toward its centennial of independence in 2047, the vision of a Viksit Bharat (A developed India)—a
HUDCO’s HSMI, distributed free of developed nation, stands as a beacon of ambition and hope. Transformation of housing and urban development,
charge. It deals with issues related to the sectors that underpin economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability are central to this
vision. Over half of India’s population is projected to live in Indian cities by 2047, the nation faces both a challenge
housing, urban development and other and an opportunity to redefine urban living for the 21st century.
themes relevant to the habitat sector. Housing is much more than just shelter; it is the bedrock of dignity, security, and opportunity. India has experienced
Contributions and comments are most rapid urbanisation in recent decades, driven by significant increase in economic activities and rural-to-urban
migration. For improving the living conditions of the people, government is accelerating the infrastructure
welcome and should be forwarded to: development. The government of India’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has made commendable
achievements, with over 10 million houses constructed since its launch in 2015 which indicates a quantum leap
EDITOR through scaling up affordable housing while ensuring quality, accessibility, and resilience.
Urban development, meanwhile, would have to evolve beyond patchwork solutions. India’s cities, from bustling
SHELTER metropolises like Mumbai to emerging hubs like Guwahati, are engines of economic activity, contributing over
HUDCO’s HSMI, 60% of the India’s GDP. However, our cities do grapple with congestion, pollution, and inadequate public services.
Government of India’s various mission programmes, such as the Smart Cities Mission has laid an excellent
HUDCO Bhawan, Core – 7 A, groundwork for technology-driven urban planning, but the scale of India’s urban challenge calls for a much
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, broader and more inclusive approach.
New Delhi – 110 003 A roadmap for 2047
Email – hsmishelter@hudco.org To realise the goal of Viksit Bharat, housing and urban development sector need to align with three key pillars:
affordability, sustainability, and innovation.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Affordability through scale and policy framework
The rising cost of land and construction threatens to exclude low- and middle-income families from urban
Chairman & Managing Director, HUDCO prosperity. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can unlock vast tracts of underutilised government land for
Shri Sanjay Kulshrestha affordable housing projects. Tax incentives for developers, coupled with streamlined regulations, would help
accelerate construction of housing for urban poor. Additionally, expanding rental housing—relatively, hitherto
Directors a neglected segment, would provide flexible options for migrant workers and young professionals, reducing the
pressure on ownership-driven models.
Shri M Nagaraj Key emphasis on sustainability
Shri Daljeet Singh Khatri India’s urban future development need to increasingly integrate sustainability principles, with climate change
Shri Sanjeet, IRAS posing existential risks in some regions, new housing projects need to incorporate energy-efficient designs, solar
Shri Solomon Arokiaraj, IAS and other alternate energy integration, and rainwater harvesting. Urban planning would have to prioritise mixed-
use developments to reduce commute times and carbon emissions, while expanding green spaces to combat heat
Editorial Team islands. The government’s push for net-zero cities, inspired by global models like Singapore, would set a precedent.
Retrofitting existing structures, too, will be critical to ensure that old-city area are not left behind.
Editor-in-Chief Shri M Nagaraj Focus on innovation
Managing Editor Ms. Varsha Punhani Technology have lot of potential to transform development landscape. Prefabricated construction techniques
Editor Shri Atul Kumar Shrivastav could help reduce cost and time of construction, making housing projects financial and economically viable,
Guest Editor Shri Jeevan Singh Sahota in even the most remote urban fringes and inaccessible places. E-Governance has already made significant
effect on ease of accessing civic services by citizens, while AI-driven urban planning would help optimise traffic,
waste management, and resource allocation. India’s startup ecosystem, already a global force, need to be further
Cover Design: incentivised to further provide solutions in areas like housing and urban services thereby fostering a self-reliant
Ms. Varsha Punhani (Atmanirbhar) approach.
Shri Shiv Kumar Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide
A Vikshit Bharat would also need to lay due emphasis on the development of our rural areas. As urban centres
grow, peri-urban zones, the transitional areas between cities and villages, will become critical. These regions
Registered Office would need planned development to prevent the chaotic urban sprawl seen in today’s megacities. Satellite towns,
HUDCO Bhawan, Core – 7 A around the main cities (mother cities), equipped with modern amenities and connected by well laid transport
networks, would decongest urban cores while offering affordable housing options. The Rurban Mission could be
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, further finetuned to ensure these areas blend the best of rural resilience and urban opportunity.
New Delhi – 110 003 Equity to play a pivotal role
Tel : 011-24649610-21 Urban development would need to give priority to the needs of the marginalised communities such as slum
CIN : L74899DL1970GOI005276 dwellers, workers in the informal sector, and women. Redevelopment of slums for providing adequate shelter
GST No. 07AAACH0632A1ZF with civic amenities to low-income communities, with legal titles for residents, can help break cycles of poverty.
Women, who often bear the brunt of inadequate housing, need safe, accessible spaces with proximity to schools,
healthcare, and livelihood. Therefore, inclusive planning, informed by community participation, will ensure no
Website – www.hudco.org.in one is left behind in this journey to Vikshit Bharat by 2047.
The Path ahead
The government’s commitment to Viksit Bharat is very clear, however its success would be dependent on its
execution. Financing the development projects could pose significant challenges, which would necessitate
increased budgets for housing and urban development especially for urban infrastructure augmentation including
its operation and maintenance, which would need to be supplemented by innovative financing models like