Private housing in Punjab: an overview
- 2017
- p.33-46.
- Oct-Dec
Housing has been identified as a constitutional right by various international agencies. With the continuous increase in urban population, the demand for urban housing is also rising. The state of Punjab is not an exception, as it also facing the problem of housing shortage. It has been observed that even National Buildings Organization (NBO) noticed the urban housing shortage in the State in 2007 as 6.90 lakh units which had grown to 12 lakh by the year 2011. Out of this, 90 per cent belongs to EWS/LIG population. The housing development in Punjab is guided by the changing urban development strategies in the state. The failure of the formal sector in housing supply resulted in participation of informal sector through development of authorised as well as unauthorised colonies. This article highlights the role of private developers in housing. It has also covered government policies regarding change in minimum area requirements for setting a residential colony and its impact on urban development. Finally comparison of the growth of licensed (authorised) colonies and unlicensed (unauthorised) colonies has been analysed. - Reproduced.