Launch of Sector 53 housing scheme likely to get delayed

The launch of the proposed general housing scheme in Sector 53 is likely to get delayed in the absence of a policy for the Economic Weaker Sections (EWS).

According to officials, the Chandigarh Building Rules (Urban), 2017, mandates 15% reservation for the EWS category, with a minimum area of 30 sqm, in any housing project. However, the city lacked a notified policy for the allotment of such houses. The Administration is preparing a policy to outline norms for the allotment of houses in the EWS category.

The officials said in the absence of such policy, neither the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) nor the Municipal Corporation (MC) can float a housing scheme or auction land for housing projects.

After nearly nine years, the CHB has planned to launch its general housing scheme in Sector 53 before Diwali.

The proposed scheme will have 192 HIG units, 100 MIG houses and 80 EWS flats. The five-storey flats would be constructed on nearly 9 acres. The HIG flats will have two basements for parking.

As per the tentative cost worked out by the CHB, a three-bedroom flat (HIG) will cost Rs 2.3 crore, which will be 39.39% higher than the earlier proposed price of Rs 1.65 crore. A two-bedroom flat (MIG) will cost Rs 1.97 crore, up 40.71% from the previous proposed rate of Rs 1.4 crore. Similarly, a two-room flat (EWS) is priced at Rs 74 lakh, which will be costlier by 34.34% than the tentative cost of Rs 55 lakh fixed earlier.

The CHB has revised the prices after the implementation of the new collector rates in the city on April 1 this year.

In August 2023, then UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit had put the scheme on hold, deeming it unnecessary. To generate revenue, the MC is planning to auction nearly 7 acres of land in Pocket 6 of Manimajra for residential project.

The officials said the policy would define the eligibility conditions for allotment of flats under EWS category and in the absence of such a policy, the launch of proposed housing projects was likely to get delayed.