Realtors bat for reforms, urge Girija Vyas to play ball

An apex body of realtors Tuesday reiterated its commitment to reforms in the realty sector and called upon the new Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister, Girija Vyas, to continue the unfinished task of her predecessor.

The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI) has "taken up the realty reforms as a mission. We want the government to accord 'Industry Status' to the sector", CREDAI chairman Lalit Jain said here.

He urged the government to introduce four-fold reforms -- land, administration, banking and labour -- to enable India emerge as a housing surplus nation and also rein in prices of housing.

"More importantly, a single window system for all clearances will facilitate quick approvals and speedy execution of projects," Jain said, urging the new minister to issue suitable guidelines to all state to this effect.

He said the former housing and urban poverty alleviation minister Ajay Maken appreciated the realtors' issues and was agreeable on these issues to realise the government's mission of housing for all.

"We are confident that the new minister will continue to pursue issues like affordable housing with the concerned departments," said Jain while welcoming Girija Vyas's induction in the union cabinet Monday.