Retired civil servants will be at the head of the queue for low-cost housing developments about to go up in Nay Pyi Taw, officials say. A pilot project for the construction of two low-cost buildings will be completed in March. The two 5-storey buildings are going up in Ottarathiri township and each has 40 apartments that will sell for about K10 million each.

Second priority will go to low-income applicants.

“Retired government employees will be given priority. Many civil servants in the capital live in state-owned accommodation, which they have to leave when they retire,” said construction ministry deputy director U Win Naung.

The 4-storey concrete buildings will sell for about K10 million for a one-bedroom apartment, K20 million for a two-bedroom apartment and K30 million for a three-bedroom apartment.

Would-be home owners will have to open a savings account with the Construction and Housing Development Bank. An applicant whose savings reach 30 percent of the selling price will be allowed to move in, though an ownership certificate will be issued only after all payments are complete.

“An average family earns about K300,000-K500,000 a month, of which they could save about K100,000 towards an apartment,” said U Win Naing.