In a region where development is gaining momentum, the conversation around housing must shift from quantity to quality. Delivering affordable homes is no longer sufficient. The challenge now is to create livable, sustainable neighbourhoods that address the evolving needs of a growing population. For the Amravati Board of Mhada, this shift is both necessary and timely.
Amravati and its adjoining districts are witnessing a surge in infrastructure and institutional investments. The centrally sanctioned PM-MITRA Textile Park is set to become a significant employment driver. The new Government Medical College is about to be operational. Belora Airport is ready for inauguration. Air India’s pilot training school, expected to be South Asia’s largest, is planned for launch by 2026. Each of these developments is drawing in a mix of workers, professionals, students, faculty, and service staff.
The impact is direct. Amravati requires a new housing strategy that meets the needs of this diverse population. That includes permanent housing, rental models, hostels for working women and students, shared units for industrial workers, and elder-friendly residential options.
Planning residential growth in an expanding economic zone
The Amravati Board operates across five districts: Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Buldhana, and Washim. Each has a different demographic profile and housing demand. Projects are being designed accordingly, not just in terms of unit numbers but also in terms of functionality, accessibility, and infrastructure integration.
In Akola, the Umerkhed project demonstrates a joint venture model. Under the terms of this hybrid approach, the designated developer will be responsible for constructing and developing the entire layout, with a contractual obligation to allocate a share of the built-up area to Mhada. The share allocated to Mhada will be utilised for the development of 52 LIG flats, 126 MIG flats, a community hall, and an administrative building.
The developer’s share will be leveraged to construct a 350-bedded multi-specialty hospital, a residential complex comprising 140 flats and 100 service apartments, and a commercial hub with 12 shops. This integrated project is expected to offer Mhada residents access to well-equipped housing within a modern, amenity-rich neighbourhood. Importantly, this model also brings cost savings to Mhada, as the responsibility of construction rests entirely with the developer. The hospital, once operational, will serve as a critical healthcare asset for Akola, meeting the growing demand for integrated medical services.
In Kaulkhed, Akola, a two-phase expansion is underway. The plan includes 84 homes for the LIG category, 462 for MIG, 168 for HIG, and 54 commercial shops. This balanced mix is intentional, ensuring that both residential needs and commercial viability are addressed within a single development zone.
Phased urban delivery with integrated economic activity
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Amravati Board has already delivered 674 EWS flats at Akoli in Amravati, 268 EWS flats along with 7 MIG and 1 HIG unit at Buldhana, and 255 EWS flats at Shivani in Akola. These projects promote walkability, public access, and integration of essential services. With a ₹2.5 lakh subsidy under PMAY, the Board has supported hundreds of first-time homebuyers without deriving any commercial benefit from these schemes. Building on this momentum, several projects have now been approved under PMAY 2.0. These include 304 EWS tenements at Badnera, 120 EWS tenements at Akoli, and 120 EWS tenements at Shivani. These interventions reinforce the Board’s commitment to providing affordable homes that are structurally sound and economically viable.
Fiscal discipline backed by location-driven execution
Project costs reflect responsible planning and location-specific execution. The Akoli project was delivered with a sanctioned tender value of Rs 139.83 crore. In Buldhana, 268 EWS flats and additional MIG and HIG units are being executed at a cost of Rs 22.75 crore. At Shivani in Akola, 255 EWS units are under construction within a Rs 18.75 crore framework. These are not standalone projects. They are designed in direct alignment with regional infrastructure and demographic shifts, ensuring that investment leads to long-term urban transformation.
Planned housing developments across the region
The Board is advancing several upcoming projects under both PMAY 2.0 and general housing schemes. Collectively, these comprise 2,384 flats, 113 shops, 10 office units, and one community hall. In Akoli, Amravati, plans include 238 MIG flats, 366 LIG flats, 47 shops, and 9 offices. The Umerkhed joint venture project, in addition to its residential share for MHADA, includes 140 general flats, 100 service apartments, a 350-bed hospital, and a commercial section. In Kaulkhed, Akola, 84 LIG, 462 MIG, and 168 HIG flats will be built alongside 54 shops. Malkapur in Buldhana will see the construction of 90 MIG flats, while Bajoria Nagar in Yavatmal will have 14 MIG flats.
The PMAY 2.0 vertical covers additional EWS housing at Akoli, Badnera, and Shivani, as previously outlined. Each of these projects reflects the Board’s focus on delivering housing that is both diversified and functionally planned.
Community infrastructure as a core housing imperative
What defines the Amravati Board’s current approach is its commitment to building housing with integrated community infrastructure. Each project is assessed for its access to schools, healthcare, civic amenities, and commercial feasibility. Where these are unavailable, they are incorporated directly into the site plan. Administrative blocks, cultural centres, green spaces, and public-use zones are being developed as part of the housing cluster, not as afterthoughts. The initiative to construct an old-age home at Malkapur is one such example.
This facility will provide dedicated services for senior citizens, reflecting Mhada’s inclusive housing strategy. The Board also intends to redevelop its existing administrative building, incorporating a women’s hostel, a banquet hall, commercial facilities, and staff quarters, thereby improving internal efficiency while contributing to public utility.
Expanding the land bank for future housing needs
To meet long-term regional housing demand, the Amravati Board is actively pursuing the acquisition of land through both government and private channels under Section 52 of the Mhada Act. This initiative is designed to build a robust land bank that can support the sustained rollout of housing projects across jurisdictions. Land availability will be a key determinant of how effectively the Board can respond to future demand in a planned and affordable manner.
Housing as a policy instrument for equitable urbanisation
The housing models being implemented today are aimed at addressing both short-term supply gaps and long-term urban equity. Several upcoming sites are being assessed for student housing, transit-linked accommodation, and mixed-use layouts. The policy direction is clear: housing must not only be delivered, it must be relevant, inclusive, and future-ready.
MHADA’s Amravati Board is committed to creating self-reliant residential ecosystems that are integrated with the State’s wider infrastructure goals. Having established a strong track record of delivery, the Board is now focused on replicating this success through policy-backed, region-specific solutions that make dignified housing a reality for every eligible citizen.
The author is chief officer, Mhada Amravati Board.
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