Works to build affordable homes for low-income families under the Green and Resilient Affordable Housing Project are on track, according to the infrastructure and transport minister. He said this during the recent Meet the Press session, assuring that the project will be completed within the project duration, which ends by June 2028. The project will provide secure homes for more than 800 families, easing the country’s housing shortage.
The minister said that 32 housing units in Trashi Yangtse have been completed and were allotted to families in August this year.
The project will finish constructing another 32 units in Samdrup Jongkhar by this month and allot them in November.
Other sub-projects in Samdrup Jongkhar, Nganglam and two sites in Phuesnshogling are under construction while those in Thimphu, Tsimalakha, Samtse and Pema Gatshel are at various stages of the design phase.
The project initially targeted more than 1,000 units.
However, rising construction costs reduced the number to a little more than 800.
With 37 million US dollars in financing from the Asian Development Bank, the houses will be constructed across ten locations, including Thimphu, Samtse, Pema Gatshel, and Chhukha.
Chandra Bdr. Gurung, Infrastructure and Transport Minister said, “Families with a gross monthly income below Nu 40,000 will be prioritised when it comes to allocating the units. Similarly, it will also give priority to single female-headed households, municipal workers, and persons with disabilities. While this is the general criteria, the agency has its own eligibility criteria.”
The construction works began since 2022.
The minister added that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is developing a national housing strategy with international experts.
The strategy will guide future housing policies, covering homeownership, condominium regulations, finance, and long-term sector planning.
The strategy will incorporate home ownership schemes with a savings-linked mechanism. This mechanism will enable individuals to save for home ownership, while the government will support these efforts through bonuses, subsidies, and other financial incentives.
Tashi Dekar
