Bhubaneswar: In a strategic move to reshape the urban landscape and address the housing needs of the floating population, the Government of Odisha has launched an ambitious drive to identify vacant and unutilized government buildings for conversion into Affordable Rental Housing (ARH). This initiative, part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0, represents a significant shift from traditional ownership-based housing policies to a more fluid, rental-centric model designed for the modern urban workforce.
Smt. Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, has formally directed state departments to inventory underused assets under their control. These details will be funneled to the Odisha Urban Housing Mission (OUHM), which serves as the nodal agency for transforming these structures into livable units. The plan focuses on retrofitting existing infrastructure to provide secure, low-cost accommodation for industrial workers, informal sector laborers, and working women who drive the city’s economy but often struggle to find dignified housing.
The implementation follows a dual-model framework. The first model focuses on the conversion of existing government-funded vacant buildings through Public-Private Partnerships or public agencies. The second model invites private and public entities to construct and operate new rental units for EWS and LIG families, recouping investments through long-term rental income. To protect tenants, the scheme mandates that local authorities fix initial rents based on local surveys, with a biennial cap on increases to ensure long-term affordability.
By repurposing stagnant public assets, the state aims to mitigate the growth of informal settlements and provide a stable foundation for urban migrants. This initiative is expected to strengthen the local economy by ensuring that the essential workforce remains close to their places of employment, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and resilient urban environment across Odisha.