The Centre and Andhra Pradesh government have launched a major rural housing initiative under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) 2.0, with 3 lakh permanent houses to be constructed in the state at an estimated cost of ₹3,600 crore.
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, launched the initiative at Burripalem village in Guntur district on Sunday.
The event also saw the foundation stone laid for a pilot project involving 177 houses using 3D construction technology, described as the country’s first such housing initiative. The pilot project has an estimated cost of ₹14 crore.
Centre expands housing allocation
Chouhan said the initial allocation for Andhra Pradesh was for only around 76,000 houses, but the requirement raised by the state government led to the Centre approving 3 lakh houses in the first phase.
He said the government would consider another 6 lakh houses after completion of the initial 3 lakh units, taking the potential total to 9 lakh houses.
“The entire Government of India is yours, and I am yours too,” Chouhan said, referring to Naidu’s request for additional houses. He said every poor family in Andhra Pradesh should have access to a permanent house.
3D technology to accelerate construction
The pilot project at Burripalem and Obulanaidupalem is being positioned as a new model for rural housing construction.
According to the government, the use of 3D concrete printing technology is expected to reduce construction time, labour requirements and costs while delivering durable structures.
The houses under the pilot project are expected to be completed within six months, with the technology designed to provide greater durability and longevity than conventional construction methods.
Amaravati gets Centre’s backing
Chouhan also highlighted the Centre’s support for Andhra Pradesh’s development, including the legislation giving Amaravati the status of the state’s sole permanent capital and special financial assistance of ₹15,000 crore.
He said the Polavaram project is being accelerated with 100% grant support from the Centre, while the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is expected to strengthen connectivity.
Chouhan said the Centre and state government were working together to drive what he described as “360-degree development” and make Andhra Pradesh the country’s number one state.
Focus on farmers and women
The Union Minister also highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening farm incomes and women’s livelihoods.
He said the state’s Annadata Sukhi Bhava scheme supplements the Centre’s ₹6,000 annual PM-Kisan support with ₹14,000, taking the annual assistance to farmers to ₹20,000.
Andhra Pradesh is also being developed as a major horticulture hub for fruits, flowers, vegetables and medicinal crops, he said.
On women-led development, Chouhan said 23 lakh women in Andhra Pradesh have already become Lakhpati Didis, with the NDA government targeting an increase to 60 lakh.
He also announced that the national SARAS Mela will be organised outside Delhi for the first time, in Andhra Pradesh, from October 15, with President Droupadi Murmu scheduled to inaugurate it.
Naidu welcomes additional housing allocation
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu thanked Chouhan for approving 3 lakh houses against the state’s initial allocation of around 75,000.
Naidu said the NDA government had committed to providing a permanent roof to every eligible poor family in Andhra Pradesh and that the state would require a total of 9 lakh houses.
He said Chouhan had assured that the remaining 6 lakh houses would be sanctioned after the first phase of 3 lakh houses was completed.
Rural development gets technology push
The event brought together senior Central and state government officials, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Dr Pemmasani, Andhra Pradesh Ministers Nadendla Manohar, Kolusu Parthasarathy and Kandula Durgesh, BJP state president PN Madhav, MLC Lapati Prasad and other public representatives.
Thousands of villagers, farmers and women also attended the programme at Burripalem.
The combination of large-scale housing support under PMAY-Gramin 2.0 and the 3D construction pilot marks an attempt to combine mass rural housing with technology-led construction, while expanding the Centre-state partnership on Andhra Pradesh’s rural development agenda.