Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10

The Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) will tie up with real estate developers to enable Army personnel and their entitled next of kin to purchase flats in private housing complexes at discounted prices.Going a step ahead from being a construction agency, AWHO is also acting as a facilitator to all ranks in negotiating bulk requirements of dwelling units already constructed by reputed builders, former Army Chiefs were informed at the biennial Chiefs’ Conclave that concluded at New Delhi on September 8.The move comes at a time when the real estate market in India is facing hard times due to demonetisation and introduction of new laws to regulate this sector. Moreover, given the high demand for houses and the large size of AWHO colonies, it has been finding it difficult to procure the required land at preferred locations at optimum prices.The pilot project will be launched in the National Capital Region (NCR) shortly. Based upon the success of the project, it would be extended to other parts of the country.AWHO is a registered society with the mandate to construct group housing societies for serving and retired Army personnel and their widows in selected stations at a ‘no profit no loss’ basis. The other two services have a joint society known as the Air Force Naval Housing Board.The Adjutant General at Army Headquarters is the ex-officio chairman of AWHO with senior serving officers comprising its board of governors. It has constructed about 30,000 dwelling units under 93 projects in various cities and is currently constructing over 6,000 units in 14 stations. Another 6,100 units are planned in eight stations.

Procuring land a problem

• The Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) as has been finding itdifficult to procure land at preferred locations
• AWHO is a registered society with the mandate to construct group housing societies for serving and retired Army personnel and their widows