Come Thursday and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will start accepting applications for more than 15,00 flats costing between Rs 9 lakh and Rs 1.12 crore. The last time the DDA came up with such a scheme it received more than 100 applications for each of the 5,238 flats on offer. Given the paucity of affordable housing options in and around the capital, the upcoming scheme is bound to be a hit as well.

There are divergent views, however, on whether the DDA should restrict the scheme to those living in Delhi. Those who are in favour of the restriction say that outsiders can only be interested in capital appreciation or rental income without alleviating the problem of affordable housing for Delhiites. Those on the other side argue though that any such restriction will be unconstitutional.

As per the current provisions, the scheme is open to all citizens of India who have attained the age of 18 years and who do not own any residential flat or plot in Delhi. Should DDA change the rules in favour of those who live in the city and bar outsiders from participating in the housing scheme.