Telangana government caps slab area in Indiramma housing scheme to curb beneficiary debt
The Telangana government has introduced new limits on the slab area under the Indiramma Indlu housing scheme, a move aimed at preventing cost overruns and ensuring that beneficiaries can complete their homes without falling into debt.
An order issued on Saturday stated that the decision followed a proposal from the Telangana Housing Corporation Limited (TGHCL), which noted that many beneficiaries were extending reinforced cement concrete (RCC) slabs well beyond approved plans. Extensions of between three and eight feet were observed, significantly raising construction costs. This forced many families to borrow from private lenders or abandon construction mid-way, undermining the scheme's objective of providing affordable housing to shelterless poor families.
Under the revised guidelines, slab extensions are now permitted only up to three feet on the front side and one foot on each of the other three sides. Consequently, for a 600-square-foot plinth, the maximum slab area is 750 square feet, while a 400-square-foot plinth is limited to 500 square feet.
The new rules apply prospectively to beneficiaries whose houses are at the roof level, basement level, grounding stage, or have not yet been grounded. The government expects these measures to help beneficiaries complete construction within budget and avoid debt traps.
