Mobility and Choices in Urban Housing

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) emerged as a bold programme initiative catering to the diverse housing demand of an aspirational urban population of the country. This article analyses the choices beneficiaries made on the types of houses and how they shaped the design and evolution of the PMAY-U, Housing for All Mission. It builds on the narrative that cities in India have both static and kinetic traits. The static trait accrues from the physical infrastructure, whereas the kinetic is a manifestation of the growing socio-economic aspirations of the people, creating spaces for demand-driven housing policies. It then explains the design and implementation of the policy: PMAY-U. The article subsequently takes up the role of the government and the role of stakeholders in the housing development narrative. It presents spatial evidence as to how PMAY-U is giving rise to new urban geographies which are driven by the need and demand of the beneficiaries.