New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- Land supply and urban planning reforms will be critical to expanding affordable housing in Indian cities, with states and municipal authorities needing to unlock land and ease development norms to reduce costs, NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba said.

Addressing the National Conference on "Reimagining Affordable Housing - From Scheme to Sustainable Ecosystem" in Delhi, Gauba said the shortage of affordable housing would increase as population growth and rapid urbanisation add millions of people to cities and towns.

"Land availability lies at the heart of the problem," Gauba said, adding that land accounts for a high share of total housing project costs in some cases, making affordable housing projects less viable.

He s...