CHB for 40% hike in rates of Sec 53 flats

With the revision of collector rates in the city, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has proposed a steep 40 per cent hike in the prices of flats at the proposed self-financing housing scheme in Sector 53.

With the implementation of the revised collector rates from April 1, the CHB has proposed a tentative revised price of Rs 2.3 crore for a three-bedroom flat (HIG), an increase of 39.39 per cent from the present tentative price of Rs 1.65 crore. Similarly, tentative revised price of a two-bedroom flat (MIG) went up 40.71 per cent from Rs 1.4 crore to Rs 1.97 crore and 34.34 per cent from Rs 55 lakh to Rs 74 lakh for a two-room flat (EWS).

Officials, however, said the Board of Directors will take a final decision on the revised rates of the flats on the basis of a survey conducted recently soon.

The CHB had received an overwhelming response to the demand survey for the proposed housing scheme, which had been put on hold by the Administration in 2023. The scheme proposes 192 high income group (HIG) units, 100 middle income group (MIG) houses and 80 flats for EWS.

The survey was carried out from February 22 to March 3 this year and nearly 68 per cent applications were received for HIG units only. As many as 7,468 applications were received under the survey, including 5,081 for 3BHK, 1,269 for 2BHK, and 1,118 for EWS flats. The CHB was considering launching the scheme only after receiving adequate response from interested eligible persons as well as obtaining requisite approvals.

In a similar survey held in 2020 after reduction of the cost of flats, the CHB had received just 148 applications for 492 flats. The Board then decided to scrap the demand survey and refunded the amount deposited by applicants.

However, the positive response to an auction of the vacant flats and changed scenario in the real estate market prompted the Board to approve the construction of 372 flats in its meeting held on May 9, 2023.

In August 2023, then UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit had put on hold the scheme, deeming it unnecessary. This led to the cancellation of Rs 200 crore tenders for the construction of 372 flats on nine acres. The last CHB scheme was floated in 2016 for 200 flats in Sector 51.