Jaipur (Udaipur Kiran): The Rajasthan Housing Board, originally established to provide affordable housing to economically weaker sections (EWS), lower-income groups (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG), has come under scrutiny after extending major financial concessions to IAS, IPS and other elite officers for luxury housing projects.
In a recent board meeting, the Housing Board approved a proposal granting significant financial relief to All India Services (AIS) officers by reducing administrative charges on premium housing projects. While common applicants continue to pay the standard rate, special concessions have been extended exclusively to senior officers.
Under the approved proposal, the administrative fee for AIS officers has been reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent for the upcoming Phase-3 of the AIS Residency project in Pratap Nagar, Jaipur. No such benefit has been extended to general category applicants, despite the board’s core objective of providing affordable housing to lower and middle-income groups.
Up to ₹8.75 lakh benefit per flat
The Rajasthan Housing Board has launched luxury multi-storey flats under the AIS Residency Phase-3 scheme, specifically for IAS, IPS and IFS officers of the Rajasthan cadre. The cost of these flats ranges between ₹1.53 crore and ₹1.84 crore. Due to the reduction in administrative charges, each officer stands to gain a benefit of up to ₹8.75 lakh.
Additionally, land use for the project was converted from commercial to residential, resulting in further financial relief for the beneficiaries. This move had earlier sparked internal debate within the Housing Board.
CSR funds used for facility development
The Housing Board had earlier extended similar benefits under AIS Residency Phase-1, where several amenities were developed using the Board’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. Infrastructure worth nearly ₹1.18 crore was developed through CSR funding instead of being added to the project cost, further reducing the financial burden on allottees.
These developments have raised questions over preferential treatment and the deviation from the Housing Board’s original mandate of serving economically weaker sections, as substantial concessions continue to be extended to senior government officials.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.