Latest news with #SrinivasKatikithala
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Welcome to Kartavya Bhawan: smart cards to regulate access to Delhi's new ministerial HQ
The corridors of power in the new Central Secretariat in Delhi, named Kartavya Bhawan, will be guarded by an access control architecture, with smart card readers deployed from the entrance of the building to the elevators to each office, including those of bureaucrats and ministers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhawan 3 (KB 3), the first of the 10 buildings proposed under the Central Vista redevelopment plan, on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu, Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan, and Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Srinivas Katikithala. On a visit to KB 3 on Tuesday, Solus brand smart card readers were visible outside the offices of bureaucrats and ministers. Access control systems were also seen outside elevators. The building will house the ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Rural Development, Personnel, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor. The buildings that these ministries are shifting out of, including North Block, Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan and Udyog Bhawan, have limited use of access control systems. In most existing government office buildings, access is controlled through paper passes or government ID cards, with smart card readers deployed only for access to the officers' toilets. So far, the Ministry of Home Affairs has moved into the new building, while the rest of the ministries are expected to do so after the inauguration. Speaking at a press conference at KB 3 on Tuesday, Union minister Manohar Lal said the tendered cost of the three buildings, KB 1, 2 and 3, was Rs 3,690 crore, and the final cost would be known after completion. The other two buildings in the complex, KB 1 and 2, are expected to be completed in September. At the press conference, Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, Housing and Urban Affairs, said the security features in the building were 'elaborate' as 'this is one of the most important and most sensitive parts of the government apparatus'. He added that not only did it have 'CCTV indoor, outdoor control, but ID-based access control systems' were also included 'to ensure both free and smooth movements for both officials and visitors.' The secretary said all 10 of the new buildings will be completed by 2027. So far, work has started on six buildings, with three of them (KB 1, 2 and 3) either complete or nearing completion. Work on the remaining four will start by December 31, he added. Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu's national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More
Business Standard
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
2.35 Lakh houses approved under PMAY-Urban 2.0 during 3rd meeting of CSMC
Total number of sanctioned houses under PMAY-U 2.0 stands at 7.10 Lakh The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) in its third meeting held on 18 June 2025 has approved construction of 2.35 lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0). the meeting was held under the chairmanship of Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The total houses approved are 2,34,864 in nine States namely, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. PMAY-U 2.0 is being implemented through four verticals Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) and Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS). The houses approved in the CSMC meeting are under BLC and AHP verticals of the Scheme. So far, the total number of houses sanctioned under PMAY-U 2.0 is 7,09,979. During the meeting, Secretary, MoHUA directed the larger States to prepare affordable housing policy and bring the proposals under AHP vertical of PMAY-U 2.0. States/UTs may study the affordable housing policy of the State of Maharashtra and adapt it according to their local requirements. States/UTs were also advised to identify and attach beneficiaries under the AHP vertical at initial phase of approval to avoid unoccupancy issues at a later stage. Among the houses approved today under PMAY-U 2.0, more than 1.25 lakh houses have been sanctioned for the women alone, including single women and widows, ensuring empowerment of women. The scheme also promotes inclusiveness and social equity among different underprivileged groups with 42,400 houses allotted in name of for SC beneficiaries, 17,574 houses for ST beneficiaries and 1,13,414 for the OBC. Under PMAY-U 2.0, 1 crore families will be provided financial assistance to construct or purchase a pucca house in urban areas. The Scheme focusses on upliftment of poor and middle-class families by giving them secured houses to focus on the betterment of their lives. Individuals/families, who do not own a pucca house anywhere in the country, are eligible to purchase or construct a house under PMAY-U 2.0. Central Assistance of up to Rs 2.50 lakh per housing unit is provided. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U), launched in June 2015, was revamped and launched as PMAY-U 2.0. Under PMAY-U, more than 93.19 Lakh houses have already been constructed and delivered to beneficiaries. With launch of PMAY-U 2.0, additional 1 crore EWS/LIG/MIG families of urban India will be provided pucca houses.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre approves construction of 2.35 lakh houses under PMAY
The Centre on Wednesday (June 18, 2025) approved construction of 2.35 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Prime Minister's Housing scheme). The approval was given at the third meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) chaired by Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), an official statement said. The houses would be constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0). The total houses approved are 2,34,864 for nine States — Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. PMAY-U 2.0 is being implemented through four verticals — Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) and Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS). The houses approved in the CSMC meeting are under BLC and AHP verticals of the scheme. As of now, the total number of houses sanctioned under PMAY-U 2.0 is 7,09,979. Among the houses approved, more than 1.25 lakh dwellings have been sanctioned for women alone, including single women and widows. A total of 44 houses have also been allotted to transgenders. While 42,400 houses have been allotted in the name of Scheduled Caste beneficiaries, 17,574 would be for Scheduled Tribes and 1,13,414 for Other Backward Classes. Under PMAY-U 2.0, 1 crore families will be provided financial assistance to construct or purchase a pucca (permanent) house in urban areas. The scheme focuses on upliftment of poor and middle-class families by giving them secured houses to focus on the betterment of their lives. For individuals/families, Central assistance of up to ₹2.50 lakh per housing unit is provided. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), launched in June 2015, was revamped and launched as PMAY-U 2.0. Under PMAY-U, more than 93.19 Lakh houses have already been constructed and delivered to beneficiaries. With the launch of PMAY-U 2.0, additional 1 crore EWS/LIG/MIG families of urban India will be provided pucca (permanent) houses.
