Chandigarh's housing crunch: A city running out of room and time
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Chandigarh: Once envisioned as a city of gardens and geometric precision, Chandigarh now finds itself grappling with a problem its planners never anticipated — a severe housing crunch.
With just 600 acres left for residential development out of a sprawling 28,170-acre master plan, the dream of owning a home in this modernist marvel is slipping further out of reach.
The last housing scheme for the general public was launched in 2016. Since then, the city's skyline has remained largely unchanged, while its population has surged past 13 lakh, nearly triple the number it was originally designed to accommodate.
And now, even the little land that remains is being eyed for government housing. The administration plans to build 500 new houses for government employees, further shrinking the already limited space available for the general public. Housing, it seems, is no longer a priority—caught in a web of bureaucratic indecision and policy flip-flops.
Demand rising, space shrinking
The pressure is visible everywhere — from skyrocketing market prices to the recent collector rate hike.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Sectoral grid rates have doubled, while village rates have tripled or even quadrupled. Yet, the market prices continue to soar beyond these benchmarks, underscoring the unrelenting demand.
Take the Chandigarh Housing Board's proposed Sector 53 self-financing scheme. For just 372 flats, the board received over 7,500 applications — a staggering 20 applicants per unit. The numbers speak volumes: the city is desperate for homes.
Limited land chunks for housing
According to the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031, out of the total 28,170 acres, 10,672 acres are marked for residential use. Most of this has already been developed, leaving only about 400 acres available. Another 200 acres has been proposed for new residential development. The remaining land is in Phase III sectors, village areas, and IT Park.
Officials have identified 32 acres in Dhanas, 30 acres in Sarangpur, and 100 acres in Manimajra as available for housing.
Smaller land parcels are also available in Maloya, though most of its residential land has been used for rehabilitation colonies.
In Phase II, 92 acres remain available. Around 215 acres in various sectors have been allotted to the Chandigarh Housing Board but are yet to be developed. Also, 146 acres in Phase III sectors have been earmarked for high-density housing, with plans for four to six storey flats and a gross density of 100 persons per acre.
BOX: Residential Component of Land Use
Sectoral Grid
Phase I (sectors 1 to 30) | 42%
Phase II (31 to 47) | 67%
Phase III (48 and above) | 75%
Periphery
Residential | 17%
BOX: City's Housing Pattern
About 70% of Chandigarh's housing consists of private constructions on government-allotted land. The rest is mainly built by the CHB. Nearly one-third of private plots are one kanal or larger, and these account for over two-thirds of the total area allocated for private residential plots in the original master plan.
The city's housing density has changed over time. Phase I had low-density development with plot sizes ranging from 5 marla to 8 kanal. Phase II introduced higher density with three to four storey flats, and the largest plot size reduced to 2 kanals. Phase III is reserved only for high-density multi-storey apartments, with no individual plots planned.
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