Noida could soon see affordable homes for economically weaker sections (EWS) and lower-income groups (LIG) within private group housing projects after the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the Model Building Regulations 2026. The Noida Authority has begun studying how the new rules will be implemented locally, with the proposal expected to go before its board for a final decision.
Under the model regulations, 10% of the total residential units in every group housing project must be reserved for EWS and LIG categories. The policy is intended to expand access to lower-cost housing for families who have faced limited options in Noida. According to the report, no housing scheme aimed at lower-income residents has been introduced in the city for about 15 years.
The regulations provide for flats priced from around ₹9 lakh to ₹45 lakh. The source report does not specify how this price range will be divided between EWS and LIG units, but it states that the policy has been framed to make homes available to economically weaker and lower-income families within group housing developments.
The rules also prescribe minimum and maximum sizes for the affordable homes. EWS flats will have a carpet area of 30 to 35 square metres, while LIG flats will measure between 35 and 45 square metres. For plotted developments, EWS plots will range from 35 to 40 square metres and LIG plots from 40 to 50 square metres.
Parking standards have also been specified. EWS homes will have two square metres of parking space per unit, while LIG homes will have four square metres per unit. The regulations additionally include standards related to building height, road width, plot size and construction costs, although the details of those standards were not provided in the report.
Eligibility will be linked to annual family income. The income ceiling for EWS households has been set at ₹3 lakh a year, while the LIG threshold is ₹6 lakh a year. These criteria will determine which households can access the reserved units once the regulations are implemented in Noida.
The model regulations also seek to prevent developers from postponing the construction or completion of affordable units. Developers will first have to obtain completion certificates for the EWS and LIG flats in a project. The process for issuing occupancy certificates for the remaining homes can begin only after that requirement has been met.
This provision places the delivery of affordable housing within the project approval and certification process rather than treating it as a separate, later obligation. Its practical effect in Noida will depend on how the Authority incorporates the state regulations into local building and approval procedures.
Noida Authority general manager Meena Bhargava said the Model Building Regulations 2026 had been received from the state government and would be studied at the Authority level. She said the decision to implement the regulations would be taken after approval by the Authority board. Until that approval, the reservation and certification requirements are not yet operational in Noida.
