UT plans residential, commercial facilities, school on reclaimed land

After becoming the country’s first slum-free city, the UT Administration has drawn up a comprehensive plan for Chandigarh to utilise the large chunks of government land reclaimed after demolition drives this year. Nearly 46 acres — valued at around ?2,000 crore — were reclaimed after the removal of five illegal slum colonies.

Officials said the Administration has already handed over around 12 acres in Sector 54 to the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) to examine the feasibility of constructing rental accommodation for employees of the UT Administration.

Approximately 12-acre piece reclaimed after the demolition of the Furniture Market in Sectors 53–54 is set to be used for the development of the third phase of Sectors 53, 54 and 55.

Similarly, close to 12 acres in Sector 25 have been earmarked for residential housing along with a shopping centre, crèche, school, community centre and children’s park.

In the Industrial Area, officials said plots will be carved out on about six acres of reclaimed land, while the remaining portion has been reserved for a railway yard and godown.

In Sector 38, almost four acres reclaimed after the removal of Shahpur Colony have been tentatively allocated for commercial development.

Chandigarh officially became slum-free on September 30, after the clearance of all unauthorised settlements from government land. The final phase of the exercise stretching over decades ended with the demolition of Shahpur Colony —spread over 4 to 4.5 acres worth nearly ?250 crore.

In total, the UT Administration has cleared 19 slum colonies over the years, with major encroachment removal drives having been carried out in 2025.

Janta Colony in Sector 25, the city’s largest slum cluster, was demolished on May 6, freeing 10 acres valued at around ?350 crore. Sanjay Colony in Industrial Area Phase I was razed on April 23, recovering 6 acres worth an estimated ?250 crore. Adarsh Colony in Sector 54 was demolished on June 19, reclaiming 12 acres of prime land valued at about ?750 crore. The demolition of the Furniture Market in Sectors 53–54 allowed the administration to recover another 12 acres valued at nearly ?400 crore.

To ensure that the reclaimed government land is not encroached upon in future as well, the DC-cum-EO has deputed 24 JEs to safeguard the government land from encroachers. The city has been divided into 12 parts and two JEs have been given the charge of each segment.