Rajiv Awas Yojana to construct two miilion houses by 2017

With the finalisation of guidelines of Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), the ambitious scheme will be launched for construction of about two million houses across the country as part of UPA's policy to make India slum- free.
The Planning Commission has approved Rs 32,230 crores for implementation of RAY during the 12th Five-Year Plan, said Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Girija Vyas here today.
The scheme envisages affordable housing for the urban poor, living in slums, through partnership and the scheme for interest subsidy and it will assign property rights to slum people.
A pilot project is being made operational in 42 selected cities in 17 states for construction of 48,000 houses under RAY. With pan-India launch of RAY, 7935 cities will be covered in the entire country and about two million houses are likley to be constructed under the scheme.

The selection of cities will be made by the states in consultation with the Centre giving priority to district headquarters, cities of religious heritage and tourist importance.
The Centre would fund 50 per cent of project cost in big cities, 75 per cent cost in small cities and 80 per cent cost in North-East, Vyas said.
She said detailed guidelines are being issued for various operational aspects of the scheme.