Housing project for police nears completion.

Hundreds of labourers work at a frenetic pace in the quiet village of Melakottaiyur, around 45 km from Chennai, at the biggest housing project for policemen in the State.

Officials said it was next to impossible to find land for such a massive housing project anywhere within the city limits. Further, with a proposal to create a new mofussil terminus at Vandalur, Melakottaiyur would be well connected with the city.

The Rs. 455-crore project, which began in June 2013 and was to have been completed by July this year, comes with adequate open space, green surroundings and copious water supply.

The Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation has now stepped up the pace of work to complete 2,673 duplex houses and flats for policemen and their families.

Announced in the Assembly in 2012, the ‘own-your-house’ scheme for policemen is different from the conventional police quarters constructed in the city for the security personnel.

Most of the houses (1,317) are earmarked for constables, while 1,190 are for inspectors and sub-inspectors, and the remaining 166 for deputy superintendents of police. Officials of TNPHC said in the first phase, the houses were being constructed over 47.6 acres of land, while the second phase would come up in neighbouring Keelakottaiyur.

The second phase will have housing for Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department staff too. Most policemen had taken housing loans through their department, while others secured bank loans, officials said.

The project's strongest factor is the pricing - Rs. 14.5 lakh for the 650-sq. ft. flats for constables, Rs. 18 lakh for the 850-sq. ft. flats for inspectors and SIs, and Rs. 25.5 lakh for the 1,110-sq.ft. duplex houses for DSPs.

The cost is low as the government did not have to invest on purchasing land, officials said, adding that applications from about 500 policemen that are in the waiting list would be considered when the phase-II of the scheme is launched.


THE HINDU