Chandigarh, Jan 10: The Chandigarh Housing Board is preparing to revive its long-delayed housing project in Sector 53, with plans to launch the scheme by March through an open auction of land for group housing.
UT Chief Secretary H. Rajesh Prasad said the auction would allow participation from private developers. “The process will be transparent and competitive,” he said.
The Sector 53 site spans about 21 acres, of which nearly 11 acres have been reserved for a general housing scheme aimed at UT Administration employees. A demand survey conducted last year recorded 7,468 applications for only 372 flats, underlining strong demand for CHB housing.
The scheme was first proposed in 2018 but failed to attract buyers due to steep prices, leading to its withdrawal. Though revived in August 2023, it was again stalled before being cleared by UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria in late 2024. In October 2025, Kataria directed officials to examine the feasibility of dividing and auctioning the land.
Separately, the UT Administration is also considering relief for nearly 62,000 CHB allottees affected by restrictions on need-based alterations. Prasad said an 11-member committee had reviewed the January 2023 notification, which was stayed following a Supreme Court order. “The committee’s report is expected this month and will be sent to the Administrator for approval,” he said.
Officials indicated that relaxations allowed under earlier policies may be restored to a significant extent, with some new provisions also proposed. Residents have opposed the 2023 policy, arguing that modifications permitted for years were later classified as violations.
According to CHB estimates, about 55,000 dwelling units have deviations such as extra rooms and altered balconies. Since 2010, the board has notified multiple policies on need-based changes, reflecting repeated revisions to accommodate resident concerns.
