The government had approved the National Housing Development Corporation’s (NHDCL) proposal to construct 800 housing units across the country. However, the construction of only 48 units is under progress.
The budget constraints impeded the progress, according to the NHDCL.
The government has approved Nu. 250 million for the housing construction. Currently, three buildings with 24 units each is under construction in Samdrup Jongkhar and Phuentsholing. It is expected to complete within the next 18 months.
In Thimphu, the NHDCL has received 30 acres of land in Gangchey to construct housing colony. Gangchey is about six kilometers away from Thimphu Town. The NHDCL is currently surveying the Land.
The Managing Director of the NHDCL, Ugyen Chewang, said there are also plans to construct similar housing units in other dzongkhags like Gasa, and Lhuntse.
“It will be planned in such a way that it will encourage the use of locally available construction materials. Instead of building house for low income, we will go for mixed income groups, so that people will have chance to interact,” he said.
The NHDCL is also looking at constructing the new housing colonies with space for recreational facilities.
“What we tend to do is incorporate social cohesion programs. We will have leisure facilities, recreational areas like develop a park for kids, play ground for youth and facilities for older generation like Mani Dungkor.” Ugyen Chewang said the new housing colonies will not be densely populated.
NHDCL is also planning to establish home maintenance services, which will look into minor maintenance works like electrical. NHDCL in collaboration with Ministry of Labour and Human Resources will be recruiting the VTI graduates to finish the planned construction projects.
