Latest StoriesResidential

Chandigarh Accelerates One-Time Relief Policy

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh administration is expediting a comprehensive “one-time relief” policy to regularize internal modifications for thousands of residents. With 90% of the city’s 62,000 Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) homes facing building violations, this proposed settlement offers critical support for homeowners who have been under enforcement scrutiny for years. A path to regularisation The administration is seeking a pragmatic approach that aligns urban planning with the needs of residents. The core of this new proposal is to offer relief for internal changes and boundary wall modifications that do not encroach on public land. “The administration is considering how to regularize…

IndustryLatest Stories

Chandigarh Plot Owners Demand FAR Parity for Converted Lands

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh administration is poised to raise the floor area ratio (FAR) for industrial plots in Industrial Area Phase 1 and 2. In response, the Chandigarh Industrial Converted Plot Owners Association has requested an increase in FAR, revisions to height norms, and a new policy framework for converted commercial plots. Back in 2005, under the Conversion Policy, approximately 125 industrial plot owners transitioned to commercial activities by paying substantial conversion charges, which ranged from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 per square yard, adding around Rs 1,200 crore to the government’s revenue. Chander Verma, the president of the Chandigarh Industrial…

IndustryLatest Stories

Chandigarh Estate Office Shortlists 25 Properties for Auction

CHANDIGARH: In a bid to achieve ambitious revenue goals, the estate office plans to conduct regular property auctions, having shortlisted approximately 25 properties for this financial year. Most of these properties will be residential and sold on a freehold basis. A variety of properties, including residential, commercial, and institutional types, will be auctioned by the end of April. The estate office is ensuring that these properties are free of encumbrances, meaning they will have clear and marketable titles without any mortgages, liens, or legal disputes, ensuring no third-party financial or legal claims are attached. The goal for the estate office…

CommercialLatest Stories

Chandigarh Considers Higher FAR for Commercial Properties

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh administration is contemplating an increase in the permissible floor area ratio (FAR) for commercial properties outside the ‘heritage sectors’. The administration has expressed plans to raise the FAR in Industrial Area Phase I and II from the current 0.75 and 1.0 to 2.0. “The decision regarding the FAR increase is currently with the top leadership of the administration. The proposal aims to double the FAR for commercial properties in the Industrial Area and areas beyond the heritage sectors,” sources report. Alongside the FAR increase, adjustments to the coverage area and allowable building heights are also under review.…

Latest StoriesResidential

Collector Rates Revised; Chandigarh Property Prices Up

CHANDIGARH: Starting from April 1, purchasing property in the city will become more expensive, particularly for residential options. The Chandigarh administration has raised collector rates across all categories, with the most significant increase occurring in the residential sector—up to 33% in plotted areas, up to 25% for housing board flats, and up to 15% for society flats. Last year, there was a nearly 130% increase in collector rates for sectors 1 to 12, 96% for sectors 14 to 37, and 80% for sectors beyond 38. In the previous revision in April 2021, rates for commercial properties were reduced by 10%,…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Sector 22-B Building in Chandigarh Declared Unsafe

CHANDIGARH: The fire and emergency services department has submitted a comprehensive report on the significant fire that erupted in a commercial building located in Sector 22-B on Wednesday afternoon. The report concludes that the top floor has suffered considerable cracking and is unsafe for any use. Damage to the building is extensive, with a short circuit identified as the likely cause of the fire, which took nearly four hours to extinguish. The report reveals that the upper floor of the two-storey structure has developed serious cracks due to the intense heat from the fire. This damage is severe enough to…

Latest StoriesResidential

Chandigarh Housing Board to Increase Charges for Resumed Properties

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has announced a proposed increase of up to 7% in restoration charges for properties that have been resumed due to unpaid dues or building violations. Previously, these charges ranged from ₹1.50 lakh to ₹2 lakh based on the floor and category of the property. Under the new structure, the charges are set to rise by an additional ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh in many instances. Furthermore, the revised fees will be aligned with the current collector rates, which may significantly impact smaller or lower-category properties. CHB has indicated that the current restoration fees are…

IndustryLatest Stories

Chandigarh Proposes Clearer Property Categories and Penalties

CHANDIGARH: Significant reforms are set to be introduced to regulate building violations and property misuse in Chandigarh, with the administration proposing structured penalties, clearer property definitions, limits on fines, and increased administrative authority to tackle persistent urban development enforcement issues. These changes will be implemented through amendments to the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, which will include new definitions in Section 2 of the Act categorizing residential, commercial, institutional, and other property types. A residential building is defined as any building utilized or modified for human habitation, including all associated garages and out-buildings. Commercial buildings encompass any…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Chandigarh to Revise Master Plan 2031

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh administration is set to initiate the first revisions to the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031 (CMP-2031) since it was established over ten years ago. This initiative is part of a broader reform effort aimed at modernizing the city’s urban planning and optimizing the limited land resources. UT Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad has instructed the urban planning and estate departments to prepare a preliminary draft for the master plan amendments within 10 days. This initiative aligns with the central government’s “Deregulation 2.0” strategy, aimed at reducing regulatory barriers, improving the business climate, and fostering more effective land use in…

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…