CHANDIGARH: Plans are afoot for the construction of 500 government houses in the city as the UT administration aims to tackle housing shortages for government employees.
“There will be housing for the police department and general housing for the UT employees. Dhanas, Sectors 20, 43 and 46 have been identified as locations for the construction of houses. The financials and development plans are being prepared. Construction will start after taking requisite approvals, which is likely in the coming financial year,” said a senior UT official.
“There is very limited scope for redevelopment of the existing housing, so the administration has to focus on new developments,” said the official.
Around 150 houses are planned under the police housing in Dhanas, 200 general houses in Sectors 43 and 46.
For meeting this demand, the available land parcels, and existing old housing will be tapped into.
While the redensification plans have faced opposition from some quarters in the administration, the sewermen colony has been zeroed down for redevelopment.
Around 150 houses are planned on the land reclaimed after demolishing the sewermen colony in Sector 20, said the official. The colony spread over around two to three acres has 116 houses.
The sewermen colony houses are the smallest government accommodations in the city with each unit measuring around 250-300 sq ft. These are even smaller than the smallest category 13 government houses. The house construction is very old, and the structural safety of these houses is also very poor. The sewermen colony was originally developed as a transit accommodation. But over the years, it was converted into houses and allotted to government employees. As per the preliminary assessment, around 150 flats can be constructed after the demolition of the old constructions.
The need for government housing has increased tremendously in the city in the past few years. The demand pressure is not only from the UT, but also from Punjab and Haryana.
Currently, in all pool categories there are 13,825 housing units. Of these, 11,923 are in the general pool category and 10,989 are allotted.
Recently, Punjab governor and UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit had also stated that the administration will develop housing for government employees in the city.
The administration provides houses not only to the UT officials, but also to Punjab, Haryana and judicial officials posted in the city.
In several categories of houses, particularly in the Type 10, 11, 12 and 13 category of houses, the demand is much higher than the housing available.
