Jammu : Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo Monday chaired the 2nd meeting of the Union Territory Level Sanctioning & Monitoring Committee (UTLSMC) under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY–U) 2.0. The meeting reviewed major implementation milestones, approved key project proposals, and deliberated on quality monitoring, social audit compliance, and capacity building initiatives aimed at accelerating affordable housing delivery across the Union Territory. The meeting besides ACS, APD and PDD was attended by Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD; DG, Budget; Commissioner, JMC/SMC; Representative from J&K Bank and other concerned officers.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary highlighted the importance of providing proactive support to economically weaker sections to facilitate the timely completion of their housing units. He instructed Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Municipal Corporations to engage with approximately 80,000 eligible beneficiaries identified under the Interest Subsidy Scheme for Self Construction/Enhancement (ISSS) of PMAY–Urban. A dedicated digital tool is to be developed to streamline beneficiary outreach and application processing, reducing manual intervention. Additionally, special camps will be organized across ULBs and municipal wards to maximize enrollment. The Committee approved 47 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) from various ULBs under the Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC) vertical, which will support the construction or upgrading of 879 dwelling units, thereby enhancing the affordable housing framework in the Union Territory. Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department, emphasized the significance of PMAY–Urban 2.0 in addressing housing needs for urban poor, detailing the various scheme verticals that collectively aim to meet the housing demands of eligible households. Shahbaz Ahmed Mirza, Managing Director of the J&K Housing Board, provided updates on Action Taken Reports (ATRs) following inspections by Third Party Quality Monitoring (TPQM) agencies, which are essential for ensuring construction quality across 463 BLC projects in Jammu & Kashmir. He noted that all required inspections have been completed, and submission of approved ATRs to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is necessary for the release of final project installments. The UTLSMC reviewed and approved a Social Audit Report for BLC projects, which assessed transparency, beneficiary satisfaction, and compliance with selection processes. This report will be submitted to MoHUA to facilitate the release of final installments. The Committee also approved the Annual Capacity Building Plan for PMAY–Urban 2.0 for the financial year 2025–26, aimed at enhancing the institutional capacity and technical skills of implementing agencies. Progress under PMAY–Urban 1.0 was also reviewed, revealing that 6,368 houses are currently under construction, with a target completion date of September 30, 2026. Financial updates indicated that mother sanctions for BLC and salary components have been received, and Utilization Certificates totaling ₹3,730.52 lakh are being prepared. Furthermore, 103 bills amounting to ₹25.67 crore for 2,501 beneficiaries are set to be cleared soon. Under the BLC vertical of PMAY–Urban 2.0, financial assistance of ₹2.50 lakh per house is provided for units with a carpet area of 30–45 sq. m., comprising ₹2.25 lakh in Central Assistance and ₹0.25 lakh from the UT share. The Central Assistance is disbursed in three construction-linked installments. The Chief Secretary stressed the need for timely submission of compliance reports to MoHUA, prompt resolution of funding issues, and enhanced monitoring mechanisms to ensure the timely completion of housing projects and effective benefit delivery to eligible beneficiaries.
