NEW DELHI – The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has approved the construction of an additional 1.41 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0) scheme. This approval was granted during the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) meeting, chaired by MoHUA Secretary Srinivas Katikithala. With these new approvals spread across 14 states and Union Territories, the total number of homes sanctioned under PMAY-U 2.0 has now exceeded 10 lakh. This milestone reinforces the government’s commitment to providing affordable and dignified housing for urban poor and underprivileged communities. The committee also evaluated the progress of PMAY-U 2.0 and discussed strategies to accelerate implementation and ensure timely completion of housing projects. The newly approved houses are allocated in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Haryana, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Secretary Katikithala highlighted the critical need to boost occupancy rates following construction completion. He stressed the importance of situating housing projects in areas with robust infrastructure, including accessible roads, public transportation, and connectivity. "Post-completion, accelerated occupancy is vital. Projects should be finalized in locations equipped with adequate infrastructure to ensure ease of living for beneficiaries," he stated. This latest development under PMAY-U 2.0 underscores ongoing efforts to enhance urban housing accessibility and improve living standards across India.