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CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is contemplating the auction of segments of its land holdings to private developers, indicating a departure from its primary focus on affordable housing.
This proposal is still in its preliminary stages and has been a topic of repeated discussions among senior officials of both the administration and the board.
Initially, two land parcels, each approximately 4-5 acres in size in Sector 54, could be offered for auction, though specifics such as reserve prices and terms remain undecided. This development has sparked renewed discussions about the board’s relevance and mission.
Hitesh Puri, chairman of CRAWFED and a former CHB board member, commented on the board’s shortcomings, noting, “The CHB was established to provide affordable housing, yet it has neglected the middle-class homebuyer completely.”
Founded in 1976, CHB has constructed 67,565 homes as of March 2019, including 33,867 EWS units through rehabilitation schemes, alongside 9,075 LIG, 11,723 MIG, and 5,933 HIG units. Most non-EWS units were built prior to 2000, while more recent projects have largely focused on EWS rehabilitation units, which are restricted from general access.
The last public housing scheme was launched in 2016 with 200 flats but garnered limited interest due to inflated prices.
A proposed scheme in Sector 53 faced numerous delays; a demand survey in 2018 indicated low interest due to high dwelling costs. Although the scheme was revisited several times, it was effectively abandoned by late 2025 when the administration urged CHB to prioritize land auctions instead. Additionally, plans to develop land in the IT Park also stalled.
Surender Bahga, an architect and former CHB board member, asserted that leasing land instead of constructing housing raises serious questions about the board’s existence, stating that developers would merely recoup costs along with profit margins.
RK Garg, president of the Second Innings Association, referred to CHB’s troubled history with a private developer in the terminated IT Habitat project in the IT Park, resulting in CHB incurring Rs 572 crore in payments and reclaiming the land.
He further added, “If the board auctions land given to it by the UT, what is the need for CHB? The UT should handle the auctions directly. This clearly indicates that CHB has failed to fulfill its primary mission of providing affordable housing.”
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