IndustryLatest Stories

Chandigarh Housing Board to Auction Land Parcels

Here is the rewritten content: — Representative Image 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…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Chandigarh Maps 4,500 Properties in Sectors 2-17 Pilot Survey

CHANDIGARH: A review meeting for the NAKSHA pilot project took place under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav to evaluate the progress of field surveys and ground-truthing activities. The meeting was attended by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, officials from the Survey of India, and representatives from NIC, MC Chandigarh, NPMU Delhi, and MPSEDC Bhopal (via video link). Officials reported that Sectors 2 to 17 include around 7,000 properties, both residential and commercial. Approximately 4,500 properties have already been visited by NAKSHA field teams for validation and verification. Currently, about 20 field teams are actively surveying each day. Despite…

Latest StoriesResidential

Chandigarh’s 2023 Notification Eases CHB Resident Norms

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh administration is set to reinstate the January 3, 2023 notification regarding the regularization of need-based modifications, bringing significant relief to over 3.5 lakh residents living in approximately 66,000 Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) homes. This notification was put on hold following a Supreme Court ruling on January 10, 2023. During a press briefing at the UT secretariat in Sector 9 on Friday, Chief Secretary H. Rajesh Prasad announced that a new notification will be issued by the end of January, allowing for the regularization of modifications, subject to applicable fees. He mentioned that the relaxations and exemptions granted…

IndustryLatest Stories

Chandigarh to Revamp Building Bylaws for Industrial Growth

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh administration is embarking on a significant overhaul of building bylaws aimed at revitalizing the city’s economic landscape, with a special focus on the industrial sector. A high-level committee, appointed by the UT administrator and led by the deputy commissioner-cum-estate officer, has been charged with updating outdated building bylaws that have impeded industrial growth in the city. A key proposed reform includes an increase in the permissible floor area ratio (FAR) for industrial plots, allowing for zoning parameters for plots up to 2 kanal, as well as potential amendments to ground coverage and land use norms. This committee,…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Chandigarh HC Raps HSVP for Current Plot Rates, Grants Oustees Relief

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted a significant relief to land oustees. It has overturned the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran’s (HSVP) decision to charge current market rates for residential plots, stating that charges should reflect the rates valid at the time applications were submitted. The court emphasized that beneficiaries should not face penalties for delays caused by authorities. The court concluded that when delays in allotment were entirely due to the authorities, oustees had the right to plots at the rates applicable during the application period, rather than the increased current rates. The division bench, led by…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Chandigarh Plans Optimal Land Use for Future Development

Representative AI image CHANDIGARH: With less than 10% of Chandigarh’s land reserved for future growth, the UT administration has initiated a thorough assessment to catalog every vacant and designated plot for residential, commercial, and institutional development. This initiative aims to maximize land utilization amidst increasing demands for sustainable urban expansion. Significant parcels of land available in the UT include roughly 500 acres in Phase III of the city that remain undeveloped. A substantial portion of this is designated for residential use by the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB), while another portion is reserved for transit-oriented development (TOD). Additionally, both acquired and…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

HC Overturns Chandigarh Board’s Denial of Flats to Jhuggi Dwellers

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has annulled the Chandigarh Housing Board’s (CHB) decision to deny flats to several jhuggi dwellers under the Chandigarh Small Flats Scheme, 2006. The court observed that the authorities failed to provide these individuals with an opportunity to be heard. Consequently, it has mandated the administration to revisit the issue and make a decision within two months. A division bench consisting of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Mandeep Pannu issued this ruling while addressing a petition presented by Rajesh Kumar Giri and others. The bench noted that the jhuggi dwellers had their claims…

IndustryLatest Stories

Punjab Governor Reviews Key Land and Housing Projects

CHANDIGARH: On Sunday, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria visited several project sites in the UT, assessing major housing initiatives, development projects, bulk material locations, and group housing areas. Sites Inspected The governor inspected various locations, including the IT Habitat project in IT Park, Manimajra (pocket 6), Sanjay Colony in Industrial Area Phase-I, the government housing site in Sector 43, and the Chandigarh Housing Board project site in Sector 53. Particular attention was paid to the 70-acre mixed-use development at the Sub-City Centre and the reclaimed Furniture Market land in Sector 54 to ensure proper zoning and future-oriented…

IndustryLatest Stories

Center to Resolve Chandigarh’s Policy Issues

CHANDIGARH: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan will convene a high-level meeting with Chandigarh’s top bureaucrats on Monday to address various longstanding issues that have puzzled the administration for nearly two decades. The meeting aims to tackle problems affecting thousands of residents, including those in urban areas, rehabilitation colonies, and Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) areas, as well as local businessmen and industrialists. The discussions will align with existing regulations and the Chandigarh Master Plan, 2031 (CMP-2031). Following this meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will engage with UT officials on related topics, with the meeting expected to occur in New Delhi…

Latest StoriesResidential

How Far Will Chandigarh Go to Ensure Affordable Housing?

CHANDIGARH: The urban planning department has proposed to raise the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for the long-awaited housing scheme in Sector 53 from 1.5 to 2. This change is anticipated to enhance the usable space within flats, potentially lowering prices and providing relief to the many applicants eager for the project to commence. The recommendation was delivered last week following the department’s review of the Chandigarh Housing Board’s (CHB) request, which considered technical parameters and master plan standards. This decision came after a meeting led by Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on September 11, where the issues…