Amit Chopra, President of NAR India, calls for urgent reforms in affordable housing, stressing empathy, bold policies, and real solutions for India’s urban poor
Amit Chopra
Mr. Amit Chopra- President- NAR INDIA
India likes to talk about growth. About becoming the world’s third-largest economy. About world-class infrastructure and global ambitions.
But for millions of Indians, the question is simpler: Where will I sleep tonight?
For decades, “affordable housing” has been a political promise, a policy goal, and a marketing buzzword. We’ve had grand schemes like Housing for All, subsidies, and mission-mode drives. Yet in state after state, the people most in need - the urban working poor - still live in slums, illegal colonies, or cramped rentals.
It’s not for lack of trying. It’s for lack of honesty about what’s going wrong.
The Housing Gap No One Is Closing
Housing isn’t just four walls. It’s stability, health, safety, and dignity. And yet, the very people who build and run our cities - delivery riders, security guards, nurses, construction workers - are priced out of living in them.
Government data says India’s urban housing shortage is nearly 19 million homes. Over 96% of that gap is among economically weaker sections (EWS) and low-income groups (LIG). This is where the crisis is most acute. And where our solutions fail the fastest.
Why the System Keeps Failing
1. Urbanisation is outrunning supply
By 2035, almost 40% of Indians will live in cities. But most new housing caters to the upper middle class - faster approvals, higher margins. The affordable segment faces slim profits, messy approvals, and poor infrastructure.
2. Homes cost too many years of income
Globally, a healthy home-price-to-income ratio is 3–5. In Indian cities, it’s 7–11 - and over 20 in Mumbai. For many, buying a modest home means pledging 15–20 years of income. That’s not affordable.
3. Land is locked up
Urban land is scarce, overpriced, and stuck in legal knots. Add outdated zoning rules, low floor space index (FSI), and painfully slow land-use approvals, and supply stays choked.
4. Red tape kills projects
In some states, building even a small affordable housing project means securing 50+ clearances. Delays of 1–2 years are common. Developers walk away. Buyers lose faith.
5. Finance excludes those who need it most
Informal workers - the bulk of the EWS/LIG market - struggle to get loans. Even for ₹8–15 lakh homes, they face high interest rates and strict eligibility. Developers also lack low-cost capital, making these projects unattractive.
6. The “affordable” label is meaningless
Homes priced at ₹40–60 lakh are routinely branded “affordable.” They’re not. The result: the intended audience is shut out, and some genuine beneficiaries sell quickly and return to informal settlements near their jobs.
The Price of Doing Nothing
If we don’t fix affordable housing, the consequences spread far beyond the housing market:
- More slums and illegal colonies
- Poorer health and education outcomes
- Deeper social divides between gated communities and urban ghettos
- Lower productivity among the working class
This isn’t just an economic issue. It’s a silent urban emergency.
What Needs to Change
1. Government as enabler, not builder
Focus on unlocking land, simplifying approvals, and offering fiscal support - not constructing homes directly. Make data on demand and land availability transparent.
2. Rental housing as a real option
Offer tax breaks to landlords who rent to EWS/LIG tenants. Promote rental REITs and impact funds. Fast-track projects built for renting. This would help migrants, students, gig workers, and young professionals who don’t need - or can’t afford - ownership.
3. Change the culture around renting
In India, renting is seen as inferior. Globally, it’s normal. With the right tenant protections and regulation, renting can be safe, respected, and stable.
The Bottom Line
Let’s stop pretending ₹50 lakh homes are affordable. Let’s stop treating this as a side project. Affordable housing must be a national priority - rooted in empathy, backed by bold policy, and delivered through real partnerships.
True affordability isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about matching homes to real incomes, real needs, and real lives.
Because the future of our cities depends on how - and whether - we house their people today.
Article By:
Mr. Amit Chopra – President - NAR INDIA
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