National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy

NATIONAL URBAN HOUSING AND HABITAT
POLICY - INDIA
National Urban Housing &
Habitat
Policy
2007 seeks to
promote various types of public-private partnerships for realizing the goal of
Affordable Housing For All with special emphasis on the urban poor.
The new Policy has been formulated keeping in view the changing socioeconomic parameters of the urban area and growing requirement of shelter
and related infrastructure .
This Policy intends to promote sustainable development of habitat in
the country with a view to ensuring equitable supply of land, shelter and
services at affordable
prices
to
all sections
of
society.
Given the magnitude of the housing shortage and budgetary constraints of
both the Central and State Governments, the National Urban Housing and
Habitat Policy, 2007 focuses the spotlight on multiple stake-holders
namely, the Private Sector, the Cooperative Sector, the Industrial Sector for
labour housing and the Services/ Institutional Sector for employee housing.
In this manner, the Policy will seek to promote various types of publicprivate partnerships for realizing the goal of "Affordable Housing for All".
The formulation of the National Housing Policy is an ongoing process
which started in 1986. Last time policy was revised in 1998. Since then
there have been major changes in Habitat and Human Settlement
issues. Particularly, the urban housing sector has been facing emerging
challenges with regard to availability of affordable shelter, growth of slums,
and gaps in provision of basic services to the urban poor. The urban housing
shortage has been estimated at about 24.7 million units at the end of the
10th Five Year Plan (2006-07). 99% of the shortage pertains to Economically
Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Groups (LIG) categories. All these
aspects were considered in a Conference of Housing Ministers' of State
and Union Territories in November, 2004 and it was decided to update the
National Housing and Habitat Policy with emphasis on urban housing and
improved habitat. A Task Force was constituted in January, 2005 and a
National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy was drafted. This was circulated
amongst various stake holders. Based on wide ranging inputs received, the
National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy, 2007 has been finalised and laid
in the Parliament.
The salient features of the National Urban Housing &

Habitat Policy, 2007 :
Focus of the Policy is on affordable urban housing with special

emphasis on the urban poor.
Role of Housing and provision of basic services to the urban poor has
been integrated into the objectives of the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal
Mission (JNNURM).
Special emphasis has been laid on Scheduled Castes / Tribes /

Backward Classes / Minorities, empowerment of Women within the ambit of
the urban poor.
The Policy focuses on a symbiotic development of rural and urban

areas in line with the objectives of the 74th Constitution Amendment Act.
Within
the
overarching
goal
of "Affordable
Housing
for
All," emphasis has been laid on urban planning, increase supply of land,
use of spatial incentives like additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR), Transferable
Development
Rights,
etc.,
increased
flow
of
funds,
healthy
environment, effective solid waste management and use of renewal

sources of energy.
Encouraging Integrated townships and Special Economic Zones.
10-15% of land in every new public/private housing projects or or 2025% FAR whichever is greater to be reserved for EWS/LIG Housing through
appropriate spatial incentives.
Private Sector to be permitted land assembly within the purview of

Master Plans. Action Plans for urban slum dwellers and special package for
cooperative housing, labour housing and employees housing is to be
prepared.
States to be advised to develop 10 years perspective plan for housing

of EWS/LIG.
Policy gives primacy to provision of shelter to urban poor at their

present location or near their work place.
Approach will be in-situ slum rehabilitation. Relocation will be

considered only in specific cases.
Micro finance institutions to be promoted at state level to expedite flow

of finances to urban poor.
Model municipal laws to be prepared by the Central Government.
Detailed city maps to be prepared based on GIS, aerial survey and

ground verification.
Use of proven cost effective technology and building materials to be

encouraged.
Development of mass rapid transit system at sub-regional level

envisaged.
Green cover for cities to be encouraged for balanced ecological

development.
All States to be encouraged to develop a "Habitat Infrastructure Action

Plan" for all cities with a population of over one lakh.
The Action Plan stated in the Policy is as follows:
Encouragement
and
support
to
be
provided
to
State
Governments by the Central Government for preparation of State

Urban Housing and Habitat Policy and Action Plan.
State/UT Action plans to focus on accelerated flow of funds.
State / UT level policy to provide road map for institutional, legal

and financial incentives.
State / UT plans to indicate concrete steps for encouraging a

participatory approach.
Periodic review of implementation of Policy and Action Plan at

State level to be carried out.
Preparation of 15-20 years perspective plans in the form of City

Development Plans (CDPs) based on spatial planning at the city level.
Setting up of a High Level Monitoring Committee for periodic

review and implementation of the Policy and for making amendments,
modifications wherever considered necessary.
Sustainability Concerns
i) Green belts will be developed around cities with a view to maintaining the
ecological balance.
ii) Suitable green recreational areas like zoo, lakes and gardens will be
earmarked /developed for public visits in the Master Plan of each city/town.
iii) Water bodies will be protected with special emphasis on keeping the flood
plains of tropical rivers free from construction or encroachments.
iv) Efforts will be made to protect large depressions from being filled up since
they are natural drainage points for conservation of water and can be
developed as suitable water bodies.
v) Efforts will be made to encourage cities/towns to keep a significant
proportion of the total Master Plan area as green lungs of the city.
vi) Efforts will be made to encourage States/UTs to develop Sub-regional /
Special Area Development Plans for areas with fragile ecological
characteristics on the basis of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) so as to
take care of all environmental concerns at the planning stage itself in
consultation with the Ministry of Environment & Forests.
vii) Growth of a city beyond reasonable limits imposes unbearable strain on
its services. City planners would be encouraged to lay down norms for
development of urban sprawls and satellite townships.
viii) Reduction in the rate of in-migration into mega and metro cities is
urgently needed through preparation of State/UT level regional Plans based
on fast transport corridors for balanced growth.
ix) Model bye-laws will be developed to promote the use of renewable energy
sources particularly solar water heating systems in residential and
commercial buildings.
x) Poverty and unemployment are detrimental to the well balanced growth of

urban settlements. States/UTs Governments and local authorities will be
encouraged to formulate and implement poverty alleviation and employment
generation programmes based on skills training especially in the services
sector

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NATIONAL URBAN HOUSING AND HABITAT

The salient features of the National Urban Housing &

Focus of the Policy is on affordable urban housing with special

Special emphasis has been laid on Scheduled Castes / Tribes /

The Policy focuses on a symbiotic development of rural and urban

environment, effective solid waste management and use of renewal

Encouraging Integrated townships and Special Economic Zones.

Private Sector to be permitted land assembly within the purview of

States to be advised to develop 10 years perspective plan for housing

Policy gives primacy to provision of shelter to urban poor at their

Approach will be in-situ slum rehabilitation. Relocation will be

Micro finance institutions to be promoted at state level to expedite flow

Model municipal laws to be prepared by the Central Government.

Detailed city maps to be prepared based on GIS, aerial survey and

Use of proven cost effective technology and building materials to be

Development of mass rapid transit system at sub-regional level

Green cover for cities to be encouraged for balanced ecological

All States to be encouraged to develop a "Habitat Infrastructure Action

Governments by the Central Government for preparation of State

State/UT Action plans to focus on accelerated flow of funds.

State / UT level policy to provide road map for institutional, legal

State / UT plans to indicate concrete steps for encouraging a

Periodic review of implementation of Policy and Action Plan at

Preparation of 15-20 years perspective plans in the form of City

Setting up of a High Level Monitoring Committee for periodic

x) Poverty and unemployment are detrimental to the well balanced growth of

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