Union Minister Manohar Lal on Friday stressed the need to build robust urban infrastructure through the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model to make housing more accessible and sustainable. Addressing a conference, he highlighted the importance of integrated urban planning that links housing with transport networks and forward-looking policy reforms.
The minister called for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders to ensure housing finance becomes more affordable, inclusive and widely accessible. He also suggested exploring innovative mechanisms such as a National Housing Exchange–like platform, supported by comprehensive data on housing availability across cities. Such a system, he said, could help citizens identify homes closer to their workplaces and enable mutually beneficial property exchanges, thereby reducing commute times.
Referring to a joint study by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Lal noted that India’s urban population was estimated at 500 million in 2021 and is projected to exceed 850 million by 2050. This rapid urbanisation, he observed, will substantially increase demand for affordable housing nationwide.
He further urged banks, housing finance companies and the National Housing Bank to work collaboratively to expand credit access and boost housing supply. Reiterating the vision of Narendra Modi, Lal emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring every eligible citizen has access to a dignified home under the Housing for All mission.
The conference served as a forum for dialogue and strategic collaboration on urban development. Meanwhile, the Economic Survey 2025-26 underscored that future urban policy must prioritise system-wide performance by integrating housing, mobility, sanitation, climate resilience and finance. “India is far more urban in economic and functional terms than official definitions suggest,” it noted, advocating for liveable, climate-ready and inclusive cities.
Source: Lokmat Times
