Chandigarh, July 30 — Chandigarh is on the verge of becoming the country’s first slum-free city, with the Union Territory Administration preparing to clear the last remaining informal settlement—Shahpur Colony in Sector 38 (West).
According to officials, the demolition process is in its final phase and will complete the clearance of all 20 slum colonies that had come up over the decades on prime government land. With this move, the administration will reclaim a total of 530.5 acres valued at ₹21,220 crore, based on the recent ₹40-crore-per-acre valuation quoted to Haryana for a proposed Vidhan Sabha site.
“Chandigarh was conceived as a slum-free city in its original Master Plan by Le Corbusier,” said Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer Nishant Kumar Yadav. “We’ve already removed 19 of 20 slum colonies. Once Shahpur is cleared, we will formally declare Chandigarh slum-free by September.”
Spread across 12 acres—three of which are on government land—Shahpur Colony is home to nearly 2,000 people in about 500 jhuggis. Officials said the government land is under illegal occupation and will be fully reclaimed after the eligible residents are allotted flats.
To prevent further encroachments, the UT has formed 12 dedicated monitoring teams, each headed by two Junior Engineers (JEs) from the Estate Office. The city has been divided into 12 zones, with 24 JEs tasked with patrolling and submitting fortnightly affidavits confirming zero encroachment in their respective areas.
“We’ve put mechanisms in place to ensure there’s no organised re-encroachment,” said Yadav.
Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria hailed the development as a milestone.
“Chandigarh will soon add another feather to its cap by becoming the first slum-free city of India. We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal slums and encroachments,” said Kataria. “The reclaimed land will be developed to meet the city’s growing needs in housing, commerce, institutions, and other areas.”
The largest wave of demolitions took place in 2014, when Kalyan Colony—spanning 89 acres—and seven other slums occupying a combined 302 acres were cleared. In 2025, three more illegal colonies spread over 30 acres were razed, along with portions of two others.
Officials acknowledged that many slums initially grew under political patronage, with leaders allegedly shielding settlers for electoral gains. However, post-2014, a policy shift allowed local authorities to act without yielding to political pressure.
Reclamation Snapshot:
- Total slums: 20
- Demolished: 19
- Remaining: 1 (Shahpur Colony)
- Land reclaimed: 527.5 acres (530.5 after Shahpur)
- Estimated value: ₹21,220 crore
The Engineering Department is already working on redevelopment plans for the cleared land. As per the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031, these spaces will be integrated into the city’s sector-based layout and developed into residential, commercial, institutional, and religious areas.
The Estate Office will auction the redeveloped plots based on rates set under official procedures, offering the city a strategic opportunity to grow while preserving its planned character.
