State to map demand for rental housing for industrial workers
The Andhra Pradesh government will undertake a demand assessment for Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) for industrial workers across the state.
The Andhra Pradesh Township and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (APTIDCO) has identified 13 industrial clusters for the study, including Anakapalli, Anantapur, Kakinada, Krishna, Nellore, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam, among others. The initiative aligns with the Union government’s ARHC scheme and will explore viability gap funding support.
Officials said the move aims to address housing shortages faced by industrial workers, particularly migrant labour. A large section currently lives in informal settlements or unauthorised colonies with poor access to basic amenities, while spending 25–40 per cent of their income on rent.
Over the past decade, the state has attracted major investments in manufacturing, ports, electronics, pharmaceuticals, food processing and logistics. Industrial corridors such as the Visakhapatnam–Chennai Industrial Corridor, Sri City, Krishnapatnam, Kakinada and the Tirupati–Srikalahasti belt have expanded rapidly, but worker housing has lagged.
Industry observers say inadequate housing affects health, productivity and attendance, and makes it harder for firms to retain skilled workers. Women workers, in particular, face challenges in securing safe and affordable accommodation near workplaces.
The ARHC scheme, launched under PMAY-Urban in 2020, promotes rental housing through public-private partnerships, private participation and viability gap funding. The National Urban Rental Housing Policy (2015) and the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Policy 2023–27 also recognise worker housing as key to industrial growth.
Under the plan, the state, through the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department and APTIDCO, will develop rental housing near key industrial clusters, with basic amenities and private sector participation.
A consultant will be appointed to prepare the demand assessment and detailed project reports, including financial structuring, PPP models and funding gap analysis.
The initiative aims to build a pipeline of viable rental housing projects that link worker welfare with industrial growth and improve the state’s industrial competitiveness.