Two townships ready for stay in New Chandigarh

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 16

Two new townships are ready to live in at New Chandigarh next to the PGI. Spread over 806 acres in the foothills of the Shivaliks, Eco City-I and Eco City-II have been developed by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). External and internal development works worth Rs 275 crore have also been completed.

Of the total 4,386 residential plots carved out in these two new townships (3,022 in Phase I and 1,364 in Phase II), 3,724 plots (2,759 in Phase I and 965 in Phase II) have already been allotted to the successful applicants while the rest have been kept for landowners under the land pooling scheme and the mandatory auction scheme. Soon, as many as 376 commercial sites will be put on offer.

With this, a total of seven independent townships have been developed in the Greater Mohali area. Earlier, Knowledge City, Aerocity and IT City in Mohali and Edu City and Medi City had been created. Another new township Aerotropolis is in the making over 5,350 acres in the vicinity of the international airport in Mohali.

Confirming the development, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Housing and Urban Development, and Financial Commissioner, Revenue (FCR), Vini Mahajan, told The Tribune that Eco City-I had come up over 419 acres in Mullanpur Garibdas, Ferozepur, Bhrojian, Devinagar and Ratwara, while 387 acres were acquired in Hoshiarpur and Takipur villages for developing Eco City-II.

“Eco City-I and II have been developed as counter-magnet townships in the north of Chandigarh on the 200-foot-wide six-lane road connecting Chandigarh with Baddi via Siswan and Kurali on the National Highway-21, which leads to major parts of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir,” she disclosed.

Of the total acquired land, 525 acres were procured through land pooling, while cash compensation ranging between Rs 1.3 crore and Rs 1.36 crore per acre was paid to the owners of the remaining 281 acres of acquired land.

A sum of Rs 192 crore has been spent on the internal and external development of Eco City-I, while developing Eco City-II has cost Rs 83 crore.

Divulging the details, GMADA and PUDA Chief Administrator Ravi Bhagat disclosed that development works at the site had been completed by M/s L&T. “Works completed include construction of roads, 24x7 water supply, sewerage, drainage and electrical services,” he revealed.

In Eco City-I, 183 acres have been kept as open spaces under which parks have been developed and roads have been laid. Besides 376 commercial and corporate pockets, the project provisions a bus terminal, four schools, a club house, a community centre and a dispensary. As many as 26 parks have been developed.

Bhagat said of the total 3,724 allotments, possession of more than 300 residential plots had been handed over to the allottees and possession of more plots was being handed over. “Completion certificates of around 40 houses have been issued. Some of the allottees have even moved into the houses,” he informed.

“Located in the vicinity of Medi City, which will house national medical and educational institutes of repute, these twin townships have been provided excellent connectivity: 6 km from Madhya Marg and 10 km from Panjab University and the PGI,” the GMADA and PUDA Chief Administrator said, adding that the area was well populated as private developers like Omaxe and DLF had already developed townships in the surroundings.

What’s on offer

• 3,724 residential plots allotted
• 376 commercial sites to be put on offer
• Development works worth Rs 275 crore completed
• 24x7 water supply 
• 26 parks
• Bus terminal
• Four schools
• Club house
• Community centre
• Dispensary

Eco City-I and II have been developed as counter-magnet townships in the north of Chandigarh on the 200-foot-wide six-lane road connecting Chandigarh with Baddi via Siswan and Kurali on the National Highway-21, which leads to major parts of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.— Vini Mahajan, Addl Chief Secy, Housing and Urban Development