India’s housing and infrastructure story is set for a renewed push, with the Centre signalling its intent to persuade states on affordable land pricing even as the urban sector gears up for ?10 lakh crore in new investments. These announcements came at the 17th NAREDCO National Convention 2025 in New Delhi, themed “India Builds: Reimagining Growth through Real Estate and Infrastructure.”

At the valedictory session, Mr. Manohar Lal, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, said the Centre, in consultation with states, will evolve a mechanism to ensure land for affordable housing projects is priced lower than for other segments, particularly under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). He intends to convene a meeting of state housing ministers and policymakers to build consensus on this issue.

While he did not announce a timeline, the Minister emphasised that such consultations would be backed by broader reforms to accelerate housing activity nationwide. He also urged developers not to compromise on location quality when delivering affordable housing, stressing that credibility must be safeguarded. States implementing best practices, he noted, should serve as role models to be replicated across the country.

The Minister added that India’s metro network is projected to grow from 1,036 km to nearly 1,500 km over the next four to five years, with a strong focus on last-mile connectivity. This, he said, would integrate seamlessly with the government’s housing agenda.