Haryana has fallen behind neighbouring Punjab in the implementation of the Modi government’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), which aims to provide housing for all. Despite tall claims by the Nayab Singh Saini government, the state has completed only 54.4 per cent of the sanctioned houses, compared to Punjab’s significantly higher completion rate of 67.5 per cent.

Why Haryana lags behind

• Skyrocketing land prices in NCR districts make low-income housing costly

• Poor project management; delays in land acquisition, map approvals and construction

Advertisement

• Lower state investment — Rs 4,000-5,000 crore versus Punjab’s Rs 6,000-7,000 crore

• Slower construction pace — 500–600 houses per month compared to Punjab’s 800-900

The 13-percentage-point gap highlights stark differences in the pace and efficiency of implementation between the two states. Officials attribute Haryana’s slower progress largely to high land and construction costs, particularly in districts adjoining the National Capital Region (NCR).

According to official data, 1,32,626 houses were sanctioned in Haryana, but only 72,257 have been completed so far, leaving 60,369 houses under construction. Haryana’s monthly construction capacity stands at around 500-600 houses, far lower than Punjab’s 800-900 units per month, officials said.

A senior functionary of the BJP government acknowledged multiple challenges slowing implementation. “Being adjacent to Delhi, property prices in Haryana have skyrocketed. In Faridabad, Gurugram, Panipat and Sonepat, land has become so expensive that constructing houses for low-income groups under the housing scheme has become difficult,” he said. He also admitted shortcomings in execution. “Land acquisition, map approvals and construction work — delays plague every stage,” he added.

Financial constraints have further compounded the problem. Haryana has invested an estimated Rs 4,000-5,000 crore in the scheme, compared to Punjab’s higher contribution of Rs 6,000-7,000 crore. “This Rs 2,000-crore gap directly impacts construction speed. Both states received equal Central assistance under the scheme, but the gap in state resources matters enormously,” the official said.

Punjab, on the other hand, has sanctioned 1,50,130 houses, of which 1,01,486 have been completed. As many as 1,01,184 houses have already been allotted to beneficiaries. Cities such as Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar have seen rapid implementation, aided by efficient municipal bodies, better availability of contractors and skilled labour, and clearer land ownership records, sources said.

Despite the disparity in construction pace, both states have shown efficiency in allotment. In Haryana, 72,241 of the 72,257 completed houses have been allotted, translating into a 99.97 per cent allocation rate. Punjab has allotted 1,01,184 out of 1,01,486 completed houses, achieving a 99.7 per cent rate.

At the national level, PMAY-U implementation has been more robust, with nearly 79 per cent success — over 96 lakh houses completed out of 1.22 crore sanctioned.