Prayagraj: In a significant policy shift aimed at boosting housing access and improving sales of unsold properties, the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) has implemented the long-awaited Model Costing Guidelines, allowing multiple members of the same family to purchase separate flats or houses under its residential schemes.The move marks a major departure from earlier rules, under which only one member of a family was eligible to secure allotment in PDA housing projects.Officials said no major guideline governing property transactions in development authority schemes was introduced since 1999, making this reform a landmark decision after 26 years. The new guidelines were formally adopted during the PDA board meeting held last month.Apart from this, the revised framework is also expected to make housing units more affordable for buyers. The authority believes that the new norms will not only increase participation in its schemes but also help address the issue of a large number of unsold flats in older projects.To tackle the problem of vacant properties, PDA has also decided to engage brokers. Under this arrangement, brokers will bring prospective buyers and undertake necessary repairs and painting of the flats at their own expense. The cost of such renovation, along with the property price, will be recovered from the buyer, and the broker will be paid a commission by the authority. The exact commission structure is yet to be finalised.A senior official at PDA said: “Many flats in older schemes remain unsold primarily due to their poor condition, which has discouraged buyers. The new mechanism is expected to improve the condition of these units and make them market-ready, thereby accelerating their sale.”Several PDA schemes currently have a substantial inventory of vacant flats and plots. These include Jagriti Vihar Yojana Kalindipuram, Yamuna Vihar Housing Scheme Naini-1, Alaknanda Apartments in Govindpur, Mausam Vihar, Manas Vihar Housing Scheme Naini, Azad Apartments Naini, Saram Vihar, and Sugam Vihar Housing Scheme.PDA vice-chairman Rishi Raj said the adoption of the Model Costing Guidelines would provide greater flexibility to buyers and help the authority liquidate its unsold inventory more efficiently.“The initiative is expected to benefit both homebuyers and the authority, while also contributing to improved urban housing development in Prayagraj,” he said.
