Thousands of homes empty despite urban shortage

MUMBAI - Tens of thousands of low-cost homes are lying empty across India even as officials race to meet a deadline to provide housing for everyone by 2022, which analysts say highlights critical shortcomings in government policy.

About 164,000 low-cost homes built under previous schemes are vacant, according to a housing ministry official.

"There is a process to allot them, and that takes time," said the official, who asked not be named, as he is not authorized to speak to the media.