BENGALURU: The revenue department has identified 10 acres in Varthur hobli in Bengaluru East taluk to provide free housing to families falling under special categories.
In total, 1,000 housing units will be constructed on this land in Gunjur village, Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner V Shankar told Express.
This is in line with the state government’s directive to all DCs to provide free houses to 21 special categories, including AIDS patients, rescued bonded labourers, Hamalis, Manasvinis (unmarried/divorced women) and Maitris (sexual minorities).
Each house will have an area of 300 sqft (one-fourth the dimensions of a 30x40 site) and will have a bedroom, hall and kitchen, the DC said. The preliminary plan has already been prepared by Nirmiti Kendra, the implementing agency for low-cost housing, he said.
The plan is to have four blocks - A, B, C and D - of 250 units each, and each block will comprise a ground floor with three storeys.
The total cost of the project will run to Rs 36 crore (roughly Rs 3.6 lakh per unit), including putting in place infrastructure for electricity, water and sanitation, Shankar said.
Resource Mobilisation
The plan envisages mobilising resources through a combination of three sources of funds — the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation, Special Component Plan of BDA and BBMP, which is meant to help the disadvantaged, and corporate social responsibility schemes of private concerns.
On how beneficiaries would be identified, the DC said a committee would get recommendations from departments representing various categories.
Regarding the time frame, a top official said it is likely to take up to two years for completion.
“So, by September 2017, we hope to hand over the houses to the beneficiaries,” he said.