A meeting on several proposals related to Chandigarh’s development and administration will be held in Delhi today under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The agenda includes amendments to Master Plan-2031, converting leasehold commercial and industrial properties to freehold, granting permanent ownership rights to allotment holders in rehabilitation colonies, and extending the mayor’s term from one year to two and a half years.
The administration has notified a draft of the proposed amendments to Master Plan-2031 and invited objections and suggestions from the public. The proposed changes include increasing the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to 3.0 in identified peripheral and Phase-3 areas. There is also a proposal to permit buildings up to 30 metres in height in selected outer sectors, Phase-3 areas and industrial areas.
The proposals also include allowing large plots in Industrial Area Phase-1 and Phase-2 to be subdivided and providing relaxation in FAR and height limits for schools, colleges and cultural institutions outside Phase-1. The plan seeks to meet increasing residential requirements through high-rise buildings and mixed land use in identified areas.
After in-principle approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the proposed amendments will be placed before the Heritage Conservation Committee. The process for making changes to the Master Plan will then proceed according to the prescribed procedure.
The proposal to convert commercial and industrial properties from leasehold to freehold will also be considered at the meeting. The administration believes the move could unlock properties worth crores of rupees in the city. It is expected to provide relief to property owners, increase administration revenue and make business operations easier.
The UT administration approved the proposal in May and forwarded it to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministry is now expected to determine the next course of action.
The proposal to grant permanent ownership rights to allotment holders in rehabilitation colonies has also been pending for a long time. The administration has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard. If approved, the status of properties belonging to thousands of families could be clarified.
The meeting will also discuss the proposal to extend the mayor’s term from one year to two and a half years. The term of the existing Municipal Corporation House is nearing its end, and the election process is expected to begin in the coming months. A change in the mayor’s term could affect the functioning of the Municipal Corporation and the political equations ahead.
UT officials expected to attend the meeting include Home Secretary Ramandeep Brar, Chief Secretary H. Rajesh Prasad, Finance Secretary Deepurva Lakra and Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav. The officials are expected to make presentations on the proposals. Along with in-principle approvals, changes to the proposals or new suggestions may also be made during the meeting.
