GURUGRAM: Haryana has suspended all approvals for stilt-plus-four (S+4) residential constructions due to an interim stay from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has requested a utilization report from HSVP regarding the Rs 689 crore allocated for infrastructure enhancements.
The funds, deposited under the account of PDR (proportionate development charges), were designated to improve urban infrastructure linked to increased density. Concerns regarding the pressure on infrastructure have been highlighted by petitioners in the high court regarding the S+4 policy.
A senior DTCP official stated, “We have requested comprehensive information from HSVP on the expenditure of development charges collected for infrastructure upgrades. This will assist in assessing the current status and planning future actions.”
DTCP’s directive from April 3 addresses residential plotted projects in Haryana, particularly in densely populated areas like Gurgaon, where the S+4 policy has significantly escalated construction activity. The communication was issued by Chander Shekhar Khare, Director of Town and Country Planning, to various officials including the chief administrator of HSVP and the director general of housing.
The High Court has prohibited the Haryana government from advancing with the S+4 policy and has stayed the effects of its notification dated July 24, 2024.
“Clear instructions have been issued to all relevant authorities to halt approvals related to stilt-plus-four floors immediately. The court has raised significant concerns about the capacity of existing urban infrastructure to support increased density. These issues will be thoroughly examined, with necessary actions to follow based on further guidance,” an official noted.
The department also emphasized that no layouts, zoning, or service plans related to enhanced density associated with S+4 floors should be approved. Furthermore, online platforms, including the S+4 portal and HOBPAS (Haryana Online Building Plan Approval System), have been directed to stop accepting applications for such permissions immediately.
The High Court remarked that increasing the number of floors without corresponding upgrades in civic services could impose an “additional burden” on already overburdened urban systems, such as sewage, drainage, and traffic management.
DTCP’s communication from April 3 echoed similar concerns, asserting that cities like Gurgaon already experience infrastructural strain due to increasing population density. It cautioned that uncontrolled vertical expansion might result in waterlogging in low-lying regions, traffic jam, and increased pressure on sewage treatment systems.
The department has pointed out that HSVP has yet to provide a status report concerning the fund utilization, despite previous requests. When approached by TOI, HSVP officials indicated that a detailed response regarding the formulation of SOPs and fund usage would be forthcoming.
Officials expressed that the ambiguity surrounding the fund usage has heightened concerns about whether adequate infrastructure improvements have been executed to support the S+4 policy. The department previously requested standard operating procedures (SOPs) and detailed plans for infrastructure enhancement, but these remain outstanding.
Urban planners noted that the High Court’s intervention could significantly impact real estate activities in Gurgaon and other rapidly urbanizing cities. The S+4 policy had permitted additional independent floors on plotted land, resulting in an increase in builder floors and housing supply. Currently, all related activities face uncertainty, with authorities mandated to adhere strictly to the court’s directives until further notice, thereby effectively halting new permissions under the policy and scrutinizing ongoing approvals.
