2 Corpn housing plans ready

Beneficiaries of two major housing projects of the city Corporation will soon be getting the keys to their houses.

The construction of housing blocks as part of the second phase of the Mathippuram housing project near Vizhinjam and the Karimadam housing project have been completed. The keys are expected to be handed over this month.

The implementation of the Mathippuram slum rehabilitation project, chosen as the pilot project for Rajiv Gandhi Awaz Yojana (RAY) began way back in 2012. A total of 1,032 individual houses are planned as part of the project. In the first phase, 80 houses were handed over. Now, in the second phase, 141 houses have been completed.

The second phase was completed at a cost of ₹9 crore. The housing blocks are ready to occupy with power and water supply and other amenities. A few transit houses were also built to accommodate people until the housing blocks are completed. The construction of 160 houses for the next phase of the project is currently ongoing.

The housing project in Karimadam was part of the Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) scheme. With the Central government winding up the BSUP scheme last year, the project was completed with Corporation’s funds. The project was completed at a cost of ₹11.3 crore.

“Only 100 of the flats at Karimadam are not ready to occupy now. The wiring work is going on in some of the houses. We are also yet to get water connection, as the water authority will provide it only after allotment to beneficiaries. There has been some issues regarding beneficiary selection for some time. These are expected to be settled soon and allotment completed,” said an official handling housing projects in the Corporation. The keys of the Karimadom houses are now scheduled to be handed over on June 2. On the same day, stone will be laid for the next phase of the project, in which houses will be constructed as part of the LIFE (Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) Mission.