Even as the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) is keen to give a much-needed push to vertical growth over horizontal growth, with land prices in the city skyrocketing and pendency of applications for sites nearing one lakh, the civic authority has proposed to launch a ‘demand survey’ to find out what people have to say of its plan to build more apartments.
MUDA had proposed to construct three-storeyed apartments in 2012 and a detailed project report (DPR) was submitted to the government for approval.
But the government asked the authority to delay its plan as new guidelines for urban development authorities were being prepared on inner-city development strategies.
With MUDA preparing a revised DPR with a plan to build five-storeyed apartment blocks as the guidelines are expected any time now, and given the heavy investment into the project, it wants to know whether people would buy its flats. The authorities are anticipating “good response” from the people looking for “affordable homes”.
MUDA has already identified 48 acres of land across various locations here for its apartment projects.
Its commissioner Mahesh told The Hindu that the demand survey has been planned as the top priority of Mysuru residents would always be individual houses over flats; it is for this reason that sites are so in demand.
“We want to [elicit] their opinion on our vertical growth push. Will they buy the flats if MUDA constructs them? We don’t want to take chances and [want to] make sure our plans get the right backing,” Mr. Mahesh said.
80,000 site applications
He said about 80,000 applications seeking sites were pending before the MUDA. “If people are keen to own a house, we are ready to build them. As of now, we have plans to build apartment blocks with five floors, having about 2,000 houses,” he said.
In reply to a question, he said each unit may tentatively cost ₹5 lakh, and the price may go up according to the floor area. Flats with one, two and three bedrooms have been proposed.
Under a central scheme, MUDA will get ₹1.5 lakh subsidy for a unit built at ₹5 lakh, he said, adding that the new guidelines would make it clear whether seniority of site applicants will be considered during the allotment of flats.
