New Delhi, Nov 24: The Centre has approved a total of 3.61 lakh houses for construction in 17 states and union territories.

The 56th meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) approved the construction of houses.

Presiding over the meeting, Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra took up the issues pertaining with states/UTs regarding construction of houses under the mission.

He asked the states to resolve the issues without delay so that construction of houses can be expedited.

Construction of PMAY-U houses are in various stages. With this, the total number of sanctioned houses under the Mission is now 1.14 crore; of which more than 89 lakh have been grounded for construction and 52.5 lakh have been completed and delivered to the beneficiaries.

The total investment under the Mission is Rs 7.52 lakh crore, with a central assistance of Rs 1.85 lakh crore. So far, Rs 1.13 lakh crore of funds have already been released. The CSMC also accorded approval for revision of projects from 14 states/UTs translating into 3.74 lakh houses.

Further, the Secretary laid renewed emphasis to accelerate housing construction and completion across the country within stipulated time under PMAY-U so that the goal of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022 can be achieved.

At the CSMC meeting, an e-Finance module was also launched by Secretary, MoHUA. The e-Finance module has been integrated with all modules of the PMAY-U MIS system and designed, developed within PMAY-U MIS System with the objectives to provide unique platform to all stakeholders for disbursement of funds through Direct Benefit Transfer mode to validate beneficiaries.

While launching the module, MoHUA Secretary said, “The e-Finance module has been launched with a specific purpose to remove any sort of misinformation. Now, there will be transparency, and all financial data will be captured on the platform.”

He instructed that training programmes for officers/MIS personnel across states/UTs should be organised region wise for the early implementation of the module.