OP Chaudhary Pushes Demand-Based Housing, Quality Standards as Nava Raipur Expands

Housing and Environment Minister OP Chaudhary addresses the gathering during the foundation ceremony for the Chhattisgarh Housing and Infrastructure Development Board’s ₹119.89-crore residential project at Sector-12 Phase-2, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

‘Housing Board Must Set a New Benchmark for Quality’

Key Factors

• “No new housing project should be taken up without genuine demand,” says OP Chaudhary
• Projects to move ahead after 60% booking, or 30% booking within the first three months
• Minister says spending 5–10% more is justified if it delivers substantially better construction quality
• Housing Board asked to use better materials, fittings, tiles and contemporary designs
• ₹119.89-crore Sector-12 Phase-2 project will provide 348 HIG and MIG houses
• 704 additional HIG, MIG and LIG flats planned in the next phase
• Chaudhary stresses stronger RWAs and timely handover of colonies
• Minister says Naya Raipur should emerge among India’s leading greenfield cities

Raipur : Chhattisgarh Housing and Environment Minister OP Chaudhary on Tuesday August 25, 2026 laid the foundation stone for a ₹119.89-crore residential project at Sector-12 Phase-2 in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, outlining a demand-driven approach to housing while calling for a marked improvement in construction quality and design.

The project of the Chhattisgarh Housing and Infrastructure Development Board will comprise 348 HIG and MIG houses. With residential demand increasing in the area, another 704 flats are proposed in the next phase.

Housing and Environment Minister OP Chaudhary unveils the foundation plaque for the Sector-12 Phase-2 housing project in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar as Housing Board Chairman Anurag Singh Deo and other officials look on, Tuesday, August 25, 2026-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG DPR

Chaudhary used the occasion to spell out what he described as a changed approach towards public housing — moving away from constructing houses first and searching for buyers later.

“No housing project should be started at a location where there is no demand. The objective must be to build what people actually need and where they need it.”

He said a project would be allowed to proceed with the tendering process after achieving 60 per cent booking, or 30 per cent booking during the first three months.

According to the minister, this would make Housing Board projects commercially more realistic and help prevent the accumulation of houses that remain unsold for long periods.

Chaudhary said the government had also worked to strengthen the Housing Board financially, including clearing around ₹700 crore of debt, before introducing reforms in its functioning.

‘Housing Board Must Set a New Benchmark for Quality’

Placing particular emphasis on construction standards, Chaudhary said the Housing Board should no longer remain merely a government agency that constructs houses. It should develop the identity and working culture of a professional organisation.

“Quality must be our highest priority. Housing Board colonies should not carry the conventional look and feel associated with government housing projects.”

He directed officials not to regard the government Schedule of Rates (SOR) as a barrier to providing better materials wherever these were necessary. Better-quality tiles and fittings as well as attractive, contemporary colours and finishes should be considered for projects, he said.

Chaudhary made it clear that a modest increase in project cost should not stand in the way of substantially improving what buyers receive.

“Even if improving quality increases the project cost by five to ten per cent, it should be viewed in terms of providing better facilities and value to consumers.”

The minister said the objective should be to establish new quality benchmarks for Housing Board projects.

He also called for stronger Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and timely transfer of colonies to residents, stressing that maintenance of a developed colony was a shared responsibility of the authorities and residents. New allottees, he said, should themselves monitor construction quality and report deficiencies to the Board chairman, commissioner or other officials.

Naya Raipur’s Greenfield Growth

Housing and Environment Minister OP Chaudhary participates in the traditional bhoomi pujan for the Sector-12 Phase-2 residential project in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar as Housing Board Chairman Anurag Singh Deo and officials attend the ceremony, Tuesday, August 25, 2026-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG DPR

Chaudhary said Naya Raipur Atal Nagar is rapidly developing as one of the country’s important greenfield cities, with roughly one-third of its area earmarked for recreational purposes and more than 28 per cent under greenery.

He pointed to the growing education and technology ecosystem around institutions such as NIFT, NFSU, NIELIT, IIM, HNLU and IIIT, alongside emerging projects in data centres and semiconductors.

Healthcare infrastructure was also expanding, he said, referring to the work of the Sathya Sai hospital and plans for additional facilities including a health training centre, genome research centre and nursing college.

The minister said Naya Raipur also had growing potential as a destination for sports, conferences, education, healthcare and weddings, adding that the impact of several projects currently under development should become much more visible over the next one or two years.

During the programme, Chaudhary planted a peepal sapling under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, reiterating the importance of maintaining Naya Raipur’s green and environmentally sustainable character.

Housing Board Chairman Anurag Singh Deo said the organisation was concentrating on demand-based projects and better construction standards. He said the remaining 29.20 acres in Sector-12 Phase-2 would accommodate the 348 HIG and MIG houses.

Housing and Environment Minister OP Chaudhary waters a peepal sapling planted under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign during the Housing Board programme at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Tuesday, August 25, 2026-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CMO

The base sale price of these houses has been fixed between ₹45.70 lakh and ₹85.17 lakh.

Singh Deo said the proposed next phase would comprise 704 flats — 128 HIG, 320 MIG and 256 LIG units — with proposed base prices ranging from ₹16.76 lakh to ₹40.47 lakh.

Board Secretary Ankit Anand said quality, transparency and timely execution would remain priorities, while Commissioner Avinash Sharan outlined the Housing Board’s earlier residential developments across Sectors 27, 29, 16, 30, 34 and Sector-12 Phase-1.

Chaudhary directed the construction agency and officials to complete the new Sector-12 project within, and preferably ahead of, the stipulated timeframe while ensuring that quality was not compromised.