Agartala: After eight years, 278 lower-income beneficiaries who had been living in a slum along the Haora river were allotted flats in Blocks A and F of the Agartala Light House Project, near the India-Bangladesh border, under the state’s affordable housing scheme.The initiative is aligned with the Centre’s Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India), spearheaded by the ministry of housing and urban affairs to promote modern, sustainable, affordable and disaster-resistant construction.Handing over the keys to the beneficiaries, CM Manik Saha said providing safe and permanent homes to economically weaker sections and low-income families was a fundamental commitment of the state govt.He said a permanent home provides families with security and dignity, instils confidence and lays the foundation for a more promising future. The project also aims to make modern, quality housing accessible to people who may otherwise struggle to afford it in larger urban centres.The project envisages around 1,000 flats across seven multi-storey blocks. Each flat will have a carpet area of about 30 square metres, or approximately 320 square feet. The total estimated cost is Rs 162.50 crore.The project faced several administrative and financial challenges during construction. Piling work also led to unforeseen technical problems that had not been adequately addressed in the initial detailed project report, causing further delays and complications.Agartala is one of six designated sites for Light House Projects under the GHTC-India, along with Ranchi, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot and Chennai.The projects serve as testing grounds for advanced construction technologies, with the aim of encouraging their wider use in affordable housing. The Agartala project uses Light Gauge Steel Framed (LGSF) technology along with a pre-engineered steel structural system.The approach uses factory-made steel components and other modern materials to speed up construction while improving strength, durability and resource efficiency.The project also includes plans for a residential neighbourhood with essential facilities such as a community centre, Anganwadi, healthcare centre, water supply and other civic amenities. The infrastructure will also include solar lighting and rainwater harvesting systems.
