Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on August 25 and 26 to inaugurate 1,449 houses and 130 shops built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) in Ahmedabad’s Nikol area. The project, worth ₹133.42 crore, is part of the government’s push to provide better homes to families living in slums.
PM’s Schedule in Gujarat
August 25: PM Modi will address a public meeting in Nikol between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. He is expected to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, Gandhinagar, where he may also hold discussions with BJP state leaders on a possible cabinet reshuffle and appointment of a new party president.
August 26: The Prime Minister will travel to Hansalpur in the Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region to inaugurate the new Maruti Suzuki facility before returning to New Delhi.
About the Ahmedabad Housing Project
The new homes in Nikol are being built under the In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) scheme, which focuses on replacing slums with modern housing.
- The project covers Sector-3 of Ramapir Tekra slum in Ahmedabad’s West Zone.
- It is part of Gujarat’s Slum Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Policy, 2013.
- Beneficiaries will get access to safer, better-equipped homes compared to their earlier living conditions.
What is Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)?
Launched in 2015, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is one of the central government’s flagship schemes with the aim of providing “Housing for All.”
- Urban (PMAY-U): Focuses on affordable housing for the urban poor, including slum dwellers.
- Gramin (PMAY-G): Targets rural households without proper housing.
The scheme provides financial support for construction and also links with other welfare programmes such as MGNREGA and Swachh Bharat Mission.
Progress of PMAY in Gujarat
Gujarat has shown impressive results in implementing PMAY projects:
PMAY (Urban):
- Target: 7.64 lakh houses
- Sanctioned: 9.66 lakh houses
- Completed: 9.07 lakh houses
- Awards: Gujarat won national awards for PMAY(U) in 2019 and 2022.
PMAY (Rural):
- Houses completed (2016-17 to 2024-25): 6,00,932
- Houses completed in 2025-26 so far: 39,092
- Houses under construction: 2,39,441
- Total expenditure under PMAY in Gujarat: ₹8,936.55 crore
Incentives for Beneficiaries
To encourage faster and quality construction, the government provides additional financial support:
- ₹50,000 per house under PMAY (Rural).
- ₹20,000 extra under the Mukhyamantri Protsahan Sahay Yojana for timely completion.
- ₹5,000 for women beneficiaries for constructing bathrooms.
- With other benefits like MGNREGA wages and Swachh Bharat assistance, a beneficiary can receive up to ₹2.32 lakh.
Innovations in Gujarat’s Housing Projects
Gujarat has been a frontrunner in experimenting with innovative housing models:
- First state to implement the Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) scheme, converting 393 houses in Surat into rental units for migrants and workers.
- Among six states selected for the Light House Project, where 1,144 houses in Rajkot are being built using monolithic concrete technology for faster and stronger construction.
The inauguration of 1,449 new houses in Ahmedabad is another step towards the goal of “Housing for All.” For slum families, these homes mean a safer environment, better facilities, and a chance at improved living standards. For Gujarat, it adds to the state’s strong record of implementing housing schemes and experimenting with innovative models.