Gujarat launches an Affordable Rental Housing Policy

Gujarat's affordable rental housing policy is a corollary to the union government's scheme for affordable rental housing for migrant workers launched in the post-Covid scenario in India. Industries can now avail the AHRC benefits by developing residential colonies for their workforce and deduct rent from the salaries of their workers. To ensure that poor and middle-class workers get the affordable housing on rent, the government has allowed builders and developers of ARHCs to get an additional 50% Floor Space Index and other benefits. According to Lochan Sehra, secretary, housing & Nirmal Gujarat, this is an attractive scheme for builders as there is a huge demand for affordable rental houses in the state. The state government aims to provide maximum affordable homes to those who want the facility for a short period and the move will resolve the poor housing conditions for labourers across the state. Under the ARHC policy, municipal corporations, municipalities, urban development authority's (UDA), industrial development authorities like GIDC or any area notified by the government will have to keep the provision of ARHC in their respective areas.