Provide space to affordable housing to turn cities slum-free, suggests OPS

“Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in India with 48.4 percentage of its population living in urban areas, as per the 2011 census. However, the housing scenario in the state reveals that slums have grown despite urbanisation,” said Panneerselvam, while delivering the inaugural address at a two-day ‘International Symposium, on Reimagining Inclusive Cities.’ 

He said that urban planning dates back to several centuries. “We know that well planned cities existed in several civilisations, including India and Tamil Nadu. The legacy is carried even today as the state has an even geographical distribution of urban centres including well established transportation network providing the necessary linkages,” said Panneerselvam. 

He also said that late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the ‘Vision 2023’ document envisaged the provision of world class infrastructure services including universal access to housing, water supply and sanitation, energy, transportation, health care and education. “Nearly, 25 lakh affordable houses will be constructed in Tamil Nadu, to create hut free villages and slum free cities. Of this, almost 14 lakh dwelling units will be constructed in urban areas,” said Panneerselvam. 

He further said that improved spatial and land use planning is crucial. “Plans prepared for urban areas need to create spaces for affordable housing or else high-rise buildings will continue to exist along with the slums. Planning for potential zones for affordable housing schemes needs to be considered along with evolving separate planning norms for affordable housing which is an important feature of Common Building Rules (CBR),” said Panneerselvam.

“Along with CBR, innovative financing tools, including the establishment of the two-tier ‘Tamil Nadu Shelter Fund’ was formed to draw revenue from both domestic and international funding,” he added.