Chandigarh’s House Allotment Committee has approved 1,840 new government houses in Sectors 25 and 43, while also clearing the demolition and replacement of 124 unsafe housing units in Sector 20. The decision will expand accommodation for government employees and put reclaimed and underused government land back into active use.
The largest part of the approved housing programme is planned for Sector 43, where 1,720 units have been cleared. The project layout and design, prepared by the Chandigarh administration’s urban planning department, includes 1,096 Type-II houses and 624 Type-III houses.
The engineering department will determine the project’s phasing based on budget availability. It will also be responsible for ensuring that the approved layout is implemented in line with guidelines issued by the Centre and the Chandigarh administration. The approval does not specify a construction or completion deadline.
A further 120 government houses have been approved in Sector 25 on land reclaimed by the administration after the removal of an illegal colony. The committee considered three layout options before selecting Option I, which provides for 120 houses instead of Option III, which proposed 228 units.
The committee cited public interest in choosing the smaller project. It also noted that employees could be reluctant to occupy the larger layout because the rear side of the houses would open towards a cremation ground. The Sector 25 plan will allow the administration to convert reclaimed land into formal government accommodation rather than leave it underutilised.
The approvals come amid a persistent shortage of government housing in Chandigarh, particularly for B- and C-category employees. Such employees often face long waits for allotment, according to the report on the committee’s decision. The new housing stock is expected to increase the pool of accommodation available for government personnel, although the allocation process and eligibility details have not been announced in the supplied material.
The decision also addresses the condition of existing government housing in Sector 20. A total of 124 houses have been declared unsafe and are proposed for demolition. They will be replaced with new Type-II and Type-III accommodation.
The old structures have deteriorated significantly, with trees reportedly growing over parts of some buildings. Their abandoned condition has also become a concern for residents, who have said the premises have become a haven for anti-social elements. Demolishing the unsafe units would allow the administration to replace ageing housing while addressing concerns linked to neglected public property.
Taken together, the approvals cover three connected land and housing tasks: adding new accommodation in Sector 43, developing reclaimed land in Sector 25 and replacing unsafe units in Sector 20. The projects are expected to be taken forward by the engineering department in phases, subject to budget availability and implementation of the approved layouts.
