NHB inclined to fund low-cost houses in Bengal

"They (NHB) had a meeting with me. They are interested in funding low-cost housing in West Bengal," Hakim told reporters on the sidelines of the FICCI sponsored 'Housing Conclave' here.

"We have discussed some of the areas of low-cost housing especially mass housing and we'll work together," he said.

It was important to construct high-rise buildings, but for inclusive growth, such low-cost projects were equally necessary, he said.

NHB Chairman and Managing Director R V Verma said the bank would fully support the state government's initiative in building affordable homes.

According to a government report, in the next five year plan period (2012-2017) the urban housing shortage will be around 18.78 million units in the country.

The highest urban housing shortage is in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Rajasthan, the report said.

Hakim had earlier said the state was planning 33,000 units for the economically weaker section, mostly in the northern fringes of the city.