UP Housing and Development Board is launching more than 3,000 flats in Lucknow on Independence Day under its two schemes—Awadh Vihar Yojna on Sultanpur Road and Vrindavan Yojna on Rae Bareli Road. These include 3BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK+Study and 2BHK+Study type flats. The board had earlier announced it would offer new housing schemes to residents on Independence Day and has succeeded in delivering to its promise. Along with some premium units, the board is also offering some economical housing options. The registration process for these flats would begin from August 15. It will launch two new projects on Thursday under ‘affordable housing’ category- Nandini and Gangotri Apartments in Awadh Vihar Yojna on Sultanpur Road. Around 1,200 2BHK flats would be made in these two blocks. It is the first time the board is offering self-financed flats in such an economical price range from Rs 15 lakh to 22 lakh. Officials said they have been able to bring down cost by cutting down on many factors like reducing number of stories to just 7-8 floors and no basement parking provision in such towers. Additional Housing commissioner and secretary, RP Singh said, “We had received many requests in the past to build more economical houses for middle income group people, therefore, decided to launch flats in the Rs 15-22 lakh range for the first time on August 15.” He said the board was planning to construct about 2,500 EWS (economically weaker section) and LIG (lower income group) flats in Awadh Vihar Yojna, which is much more than norm of allocating 10 percent each to EWS and LIG in any housing project. For Awadh Vihar Scheme, Housing Board received an overwhelming response with the total number of subscription increasing up to three times the number of ‘3BHK+Servant’ flats offered. Similarly, it received twice the number of applications for its 2BHK+Study units. Since the board had promised to offer all applicants self-financed flats, it has announced to construct about 650 additional flats in this scheme to accommodate those people. Housing Board will also launch a new project- Alaknanda Enclave on Sultanpur Road on Independence Day. It offers 409 flats in both-2BHK+Study and 3BHK+Servant category in the first phase ranging between Rs 42-50 lakh. The 2BHK+Study type comprise 157 units while the 3BHK+Servant flats would be around 252. Overall, the board plans to construct 988 flats in the longer run. It is also set to launch 40 new flats under Bhagirathi Enclave on Sultanpur Road on Independence Day. These are 3BHK flats in the range of about Rs 47 lakh. Similarly around 131 flats would be offered in Mandakini Enclave of Awadh Vihar Yojna on Sultanpur Road. These are 2BHK types at a price of approximately Rs 39 lakh.