new delhi finance minister nirmala sitharaman on thursday announced a rs 18000 crore additional outlay for the urban housing scheme to help complete real estate projects that would create jobs and boost the economyshe said the rs 18000 crore would be provided over and above the budget estimates for 202021 for the prime minister awas yojana urban through additional allocation and extra budgetary resourcesthis is over and above rs 8000 crore already provided this yearshe said the move would help start work on 12 lakh houses as well as complete 18 lakh houses this would create 78 lakh new jobs as well as demand for steel and cementannouncing support for construction and infrastructure she said earnest money deposit emo and performance security requirements will be relaxed for government tendersperformance security on contracts will be reduced to 3 per cent instead of 5 to 10 per cent this would be extended to ongoing contracts which are free of disputesit would also be extended to public sector enterprises she said adding states will also be encouraged to adopt the sameearnest money deposit emd will not be required for tenders and will be replaced by bid security declarationthese relaxations will be given till december 31 2021 she said adding the move would give relief to contractors by reducing locking up of capital and cost of bank guarantees