Implementation programme for housing projects in Cochin

[Roberts11]

The Housing Board will be able to implement a reasonable size of housing programme with the loan assistance of the National Housing Bank, Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) etc. Remaining plots for High Income Group (HIG), Medium Income Group (MIG) will have to be allotted by the agencies implementing the Area Development Projects of the cooperative housing societies.

The Home Improvement Trusts, Development Authorities or even the Kerala State Housing Board need not construct all the HIG and MIG houses. To give a direction to the general housing activity these organizations may take up around 20 to 30 percent of this load through its implementing agencies. Rest of the work should be left to the private enterprises.

The Low Income Group (LIG) and the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) would find it difficult to undertake building construction. The State Housing Boards or the Home Improvement Trusts and other Development Authorities may undertake these projects according to the needs of the people in a particular locality.

Due to the increasing space crunch in the city centers, the Apartments in Cochin are the only way out to own a roof under one’s head in the financial capital of Kerala. Perhaps in no other city in Kerala can you see such a proliferation of apartments as in the city of Kochi. According to recent estimates, the emerging areas of the key city centers have either given way to high rise commercial establishments or have been used up for constructing flats and other living spaces.

The space shortage in Cochin is rather acute due to the increasing numbers of the expatriate population that is returning to their home destination in droves. These Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are mainly responsible for the rising property values in the city.