After a prolonged period of inactivity, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has initiated steps to launch a new housing project in Sector 54, marking a renewed effort to address the city’s growing residential demand. This move follows progress on the Sector 53 self-financing scheme, which has been under planning for several years.
Officials confirmed that CHB has been allocated approximately 32 acres in Sector 54. Of this, about 14 acres are currently in its possession, while the remaining 18 acres are to be transferred by the estate office and the Union Territory’s engineering department. The planning process for the Sector 54 project is expected to conclude within four to six months.
A senior official from the Chandigarh administration noted that a recent meeting, chaired by the UT Administrator, reviewed the land availability for various development purposes. During the discussion, the Sector 54 land parcel was cleared for planning a residential project for the general public.
Initial estimates indicate the potential development of around 1,700 housing units on the site. Further details regarding the unit categories and scheme structure are expected after the planning stage is completed.
CHB remains one of the key public sector housing developers in the city. It holds several large land parcels that are currently under consideration for future development. Among these, a major holding includes over 100 acres along Vikas Marg and an equally large tract in the Chandigarh IT Park.
Earlier, CHB had proposed two separate housing schemes in the IT Park area. However, these projects failed to secure clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), which put them on hold.
Meanwhile, the Sector 53 scheme—which was first conceptualized in 2018—has seen repeated delays. The original plan involved the construction of 492 flats. In 2022, the Board revised the proposal, dropping the idea of constructing 100 one-room units. The updated proposal includes 372 flats: 192 three-bedroom, 100 two-bedroom, and 80 two-bedroom units under the economically weaker section (EWS) category.
Officials have indicated that the decision on constructing the previously planned one-room units has been deferred and will be taken at a later stage.
The Sector 53 scheme was revived in 2023 but was deferred again that year when the administration reviewed the overall housing requirement in the city. It was only in 2024 that efforts to revive the plan resumed, leading to a fresh demand survey conducted earlier in 2025.
However, the scheme has not yet been launched. According to officials, several procedural clearances are still pending. In the interim, CHB refunded the deposit money collected from applicants who had responded to the earlier demand survey. This step was taken after the cost of the proposed units was increased following a revision in the collector rates. Fresh applications will be invited after the scheme receives all necessary approvals and is formally launched.
The Board’s renewed activity comes amid rising concerns over housing shortages and affordability in the city. With a limited stock of vacant land, especially in central areas, planning authorities are under pressure to balance population growth with land use efficiency.
Although the Sector 53 and Sector 54 schemes are still in their early stages, their progress is being closely watched by both prospective homebuyers and city planners. These projects are part of broader efforts to maintain a pipeline of public housing offerings, particularly as land availability tightens and private housing prices continue to rise.
The Chandigarh Housing Board is expected to provide further updates on both schemes in the coming months, following completion of planning and approval procedures.
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