Cement makers offer ₹230 per bag discount for Indiramma Houses scheme

Cement manufacturers have agreed to supply cement at ₹230 per bag for beneficiaries of Telangana's Indiramma Houses scheme, offering a substantial discount of ₹110 from the prevailing commercial market price of around ₹340 per bag. The decision came in response to a request by Housing and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, who approached the cement industry to ease the financial burden on house construction beneficiaries.

The discounted cement pricing is expected to significantly reduce construction costs for thousands of families building homes under the state-sponsored housing programme. Many beneficiaries have been spending well over ₹5 lakh, exceeding the government subsidy, primarily due to the escalating costs of construction materials. The reduced cement price will help bridge this gap and make home construction more affordable for low-income families.

Under the first phase of the Indiramma Houses scheme, which covers the entire state except Hyderabad, 4.5 lakh houses have been sanctioned. Progress has been substantial, with slabs already laid for 85 percent of these houses, while the remaining 15 percent are in various stages of construction. The programme has gained momentum across rural and semi-urban areas of Telangana.

The state government has now launched the second phase of the housing scheme, sanctioning an additional 2.5 lakh houses. Under this phase, 2,000 houses have been allocated to each Assembly constituency across the state, ensuring equitable distribution of housing benefits.

The cement industry's cooperation marks a significant step toward making the Indiramma Houses scheme more viable and sustainable. By lowering one of the most critical input costs, the government and industry together are working to ensure that beneficiaries can complete their homes within the allocated subsidy without severe financial strain.