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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
CHB back-pedals on Sector-53 housing scheme, to refund ₹7.5-crore application fee
The Chandigarh Housing Board still cannot seem to make up its mind about the long-delayed General Housing Scheme in Sector 53 — its only offering since 2016. After conducting a much-publicised demand survey, which received an enthusiastic response, the board has now decided to refund the nearly ₹7.5 crore collected from the hopeful applicants. The demand survey, which ended on March 3, saw 7,468 applicants vying for 372 flats across three categories — nearly 20 applicants per unit — reflecting a strong demand. To confirm their interest, the applicants had deposited ₹10,000 for High-Income Group (HIG) and Middle-Income Group (MIG) flats, and ₹5,000 for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats. However, a sharp hike in the city's collector rates, which took effect from April 1, pushed the flat prices up by 35% to 40%, throwing the project into uncertainty. When the demand survey was conducted, just weeks before the new collector rates were implemented, the estimated cost of the three-bedroom, two-bedroom and two-bedroom EWS flats was ₹1.65 crore, ₹1.40 crore and ₹55 lakh, respectively. But under the new collector rates, the prices have risen to a staggering ₹2.29 crore for a three-bedroom flat, ₹1.97 crore for a two-bedroom flat and ₹73 lakh for an EWS flat, leaving officials pondering whether the interested applicants will still be willing to proceed at the higher prices. Subsequently, CHB CEO Ajay Chagti had said the matter will be placed before the Board of Directors to decide whether to go ahead with the scheme or conduct a fresh demand survey. But no meeting has been held since. Instead the board has simply decided to refund the application fee — leaving thousands of housing hopefuls in Chandigarh frustrated and disappointed. To make matters worse, there's no clarity on what comes next. A CHB official confirmed that UT chief secretary-cum-CHB chairman Rajeev Verma had approved the refunds. However, no decision has been taken on whether a fresh survey will be conducted or whether the scheme will proceed at all. Ironically, the demand survey itself was ordered by the UT chief secretary to establish demand for the project. But a call to conduct a fresh demand has never been taken even two months after the hiked collector rates were enforced. Scrapped, revived, on hold again The whopping 7,468 applications are in stark contrast to only 178 applications for 492 flats when the scheme was first floated in 2018. The low response, primarily due to steep prices, had ultimately led to the scheme getting dropped. Back then, the three-bedroom flat was offered for as high as ₹1.8 crore, two-bedroom flat for ₹1.5 crore and one-bedroom flat for ₹95 lakh. Struggling to justify its existence, the board revived the scheme in February 2023 with lower prices. However, former UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit put the scheme on hold on August 3, 2023, citing there was no requirement for it. But Purohit's successor Gulab Chand Kataria, in November 2024, revived the scheme, prompting a fresh demand survey. Established in 1976, with the primary objective of providing reasonably priced and good quality housing in Chandigarh, CHB had last successfully rolled out a housing scheme in 2016, when it had offered 200 two-bedroom flats in Sector 51 for ₹69 lakh each.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chandigarh housing board delays Sector 53 scheme
1 2 Chandigarh: There has been no new residential project in nearly a decade, and the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is again faltering in launching the long-planned Sector 53 self-financing housing scheme. After conducting a successful demand survey for the scheme earlier this year, the CHB is now back to square one as it is set to refund the applicants of the survey their deposited money. In the survey for the scheme held in Feb-March this year, nearly 7,500 applicants expressed their interest in 372 flats. In a previous survey (2018-19), the scheme received only 178 applications. Applicants deposited Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 under the demand survey, depending on the category of flats. However, after a major hike in the collector rates, CHB increased the prices of the flats by 30-40%, depending on the category of the flat. According to a CHB official, "The 3-BHK flat, which is currently priced at Rs 1.65 crore, is likely to be priced at Rs 2.29 crore after the proposed collector rates are made effective. Similarly, the 2-BHK prices are set to increase from Rs 1.40 crore to Rs 1.97 crore. For the EWS flat, the price is likely to rise from Rs 55 lakh to Rs 73 lakh." CHB, the primary player in housing expansion, has struggled to deliver affordable housing. Most of its effort has been reduced to achieving the administration's aim to make the city 'slum free'. Other economically disadvantaged groups and the middle class have been largely ignored. CHB's last housing scheme for the public was launched in 2016 when it offered 200 flats. But the public response was poor because of affordability issues. By March 2019, it constructed a total of 67,565 houses. Of these, 33,867 are under the EWS category (mainly allotted under the slum rehabilitation schemes). For the LIG (low-income group), CHB created 9,075 dwelling units, MIG (middle-income group) 11,723, and HIG (high-income group) 5,933. CHB created most of the LIG, MIG, and HIG housing before 2000. After that, it mainly created housing for the rehabilitation colonies falling in the EWS category, which are not open to the public. The Sector 53 housing scheme has been marred with delays for several years now. WASTING TIME AND MONEY The Sector 53 housing scheme has once again shown the poor and dilatory decision-making process in the CHB, which has a monopoly in housing creation in the city. "Even after getting a good response in the latest demand survey, the CHB failed to launch the project before the hiked rate came into effect, creating unnecessary delay, which will now jeopardise the very future of the scheme. CHB should have taken a decision on the scheme launch within a month of the demand survey results, but senior officials didn't act even after two and a half months. Now, the applicant money will be refunded," said an official who didn't want to be named. The housing scheme was to be launched in 2018, but it was dropped after a poor demand survey. It was revived in 2023, but again the administration decided against launching it. CHB, making another flip-flop, decided to revive the scheme in 2024. "In the meantime, due to inflationary issues over the last seven years, the effective cost of the project has increased manifold. This will ultimately be passed on to the economically weaker sections and middle-class buyers," said the official. A CHB official said, "There were market and policy constraints that delayed the launch of the project. The project is still on." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chandigarh: CHB considers new demand survey after prices of flats increase sharply
CHANDIGARH : An increase in the price of flats in the proposed Chandigarh Housing Board ( CHB ), Sector 53 self-financing housing scheme has prompted the board to consider a fresh demand survey. It is also considering offering an option to existing applicants of the latest demand survey to accept increased price of flats. In the demand survey for the scheme held in February-March this year, nearly 7,500 applicants expressed interest in 372 flats. In a previous survey (2018-19), the scheme received only 178 applications. Applicants deposited Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 under the demand survey, depending on the category of flats. However, after a major hike in collector rates, CHB increased prices of the flats by 30% to 40%, depending on the category. According to a CHB official, "The 3-BHK flat, which is currently priced at Rs 1.65 crore, is likely to be priced at Rs 2.29 crore if the proposed collector rates are made effective. The 2-BHK prices are set to increase from Rs 1.40 crore to Rs 1.97 crore. For the EWS flat, the price is likely to rise from Rs 55 lakh to Rs 73 lakh." CHB claimed that a decision regarding the scheme would be taken within a month after closure of the demand survey. However, after two and a half months, a decision is still to be taken. CHB is facing the prospect of applicants dragging it to court on the issue of their deposits. The housing scheme was to be launched in 2018, but a demand survey revealed that there were not many takers due to the high cost of the dwelling units. The scheme was revived in 2023 but the administration decided against launching it. It was again revived in 2024, and a fresh demand survey was conducted in 2025.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CHB considers new demand survey after prices of flats increase sharply
Chandigarh: An increase in the price of flats in the proposed Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB), Sector 53 self-financing housing scheme has prompted the board to consider a fresh demand survey . It is also considering offering an option to existing applicants of the latest demand survey to accept increased price of flats. In the demand survey for the scheme held in February-March this year, nearly 7,500 applicants expressed interest in 372 flats. In a previous survey (2018-19), the scheme received only 178 applications. Applicants deposited Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 under the demand survey, depending on the category of flats. However, after a major hike in collector rates , CHB increased prices of the flats by 30% to 40%, depending on the category. According to a CHB official, "The 3-BHK flat, which is currently priced at Rs 1.65 crore, is likely to be priced at Rs 2.29 crore if the proposed collector rates are made effective. The 2-BHK prices are set to increase from Rs 1.40 crore to Rs 1.97 crore. For the EWS flat, the price is likely to rise from Rs 55 lakh to Rs 73 lakh." CHB claimed that a decision regarding the scheme would be taken within a month after closure of the demand survey. However, after two and a half months, a decision is still to be taken. CHB is facing the prospect of applicants dragging it to court on the issue of their deposits. The housing scheme was to be launched in 2018, but a demand survey revealed that there were not many takers due to the high cost of the dwelling units. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cinnamon: The Greatest Enemy of Blood Sugar Magazine Glyco Learn More Undo The scheme was revived in 2023 but the administration decided against launching it. It was again revived in 2024, and a fresh demand survey was conducted in 2025. BOX: Provision of installing lift CHB has received the nod of the Chandigarh administration for installation of lifts in CHB dwelling units. Drawings for these lifts will be issued by CHB after the plan is submitted. A 15-day notice will be issued for the rest of the adjoining allottees. If other residents of the block also want to use the lift, they can do so by sharing the price. Where there is no provision for installing lifts, adjoining areas can be used for installation but without transfer of ownership rights of govt land. MSID:: 121297937 413 |
Time of India
05-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Civic officials, CHB staff visit Maloya reeling from water crisis & poor drainage
Chandigarh: Amid reports of contaminated water and poor drainage in Maloya, MC's engineering department officials, along with Congress municipal councillors and the area councillor, visited the area for an inspection Monday. The engineering staff of Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) were also there. The officials spoke to local residents and heard their grievances regarding frequent water contamination and drainage issues, particularly during the summer and rainy seasons. Preliminary observations indicate that the contamination has been caused by leakages in water supply pipelines and the overflowing sewerage lines, which has led to the mixing of sewage with drinking water. In the interest of public health, the executive engineers of the public health divisions concerned have been directed to immediately test water samples, identify leakage points, and carry out necessary repairs. The municipal commissioner and municipal chief engineer have assured residents of Maloya colony that prompt steps will be taken to resolve the issue. A comprehensive plan is being prepared to improve the water supply and drainage system in Maloya, and remedial work will commence shortly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Start Here - 2025 Top Trend Local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo During the inspection, it also came to light that, as per policy, the water supply system is to be handed over to the Municipal Corporation by the Chandigarh Housing Board after five years of project completion. However, due to financial constraints, the MC has not yet taken over the system, whose operation and maintenance costs come to Rs 2.5 crore every year.
