In a significant move set to benefit thousands of residents, the Chandigarh Administration has announced the restoration of a key policy to regularise unauthorised modifications in government housing board flats. This decision promises major relief to approximately 66,000 households of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) who have made need-based alterations to their homes over the years.
Policy Restoration and Timeline
Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad confirmed the development during an interaction with mediapersons at the UT Secretariat on Friday evening. He stated that a fresh notification to restore the provisions of the January 3, 2023 notification will be issued by the end of January 2026.
The original notification was withdrawn following a Supreme Court order dated January 10, 2023. Currently, an 11-member committee led by the Estate Secretary is reviewing the old policy. This committee is expected to submit its report by January 24, 2026, after which it will be sent to Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria for final approval.
"Residents who have made essential alterations to their houses will be given relief after paying prescribed charges," Prasad assured. The core of the relief will be the retention of up to 90 per cent relaxation that was granted earlier under the need-based changes policy. The new notification may also incorporate some additional provisions.
Scope of the Relief and Current Situation
The scale of the issue is vast. Out of the total 66,000 CHB houses in the city, nearly 60,000 are estimated to have undergone some form of need-based modification. These range from minor structural changes to more significant alterations undertaken by residents over decades to accommodate growing families and changing needs.
Presently, a large number of these households are facing official notices from the administration concerning violations and misuse of property norms. The restoration of the 2023 policy is aimed squarely at resolving this long-pending issue, providing a legal pathway for residents to get their modifications regularised upon payment of due charges, thereby ending the cycle of notices and uncertainty.
Other Key Announcements
Alongside this major policy shift, the Chief Secretary made two other important announcements concerning Chandigarh's development.
Firstly, he revealed plans for a new housing scheme in Sector 53, which is slated to be launched by March 2026. The entire land parcel in the sector will be developed through plotting and sold via e-auction. The process will be open, allowing any private developer to participate in the bidding.
Secondly, as part of the administration's push towards digital governance, an e-post service will be introduced from January 15, 2026. This initiative, under the broader e-office project, will ensure that all public complaints and issues are routed digitally to the concerned officials, aiming to streamline grievance redressal and improve administrative efficiency.
The decision to revive the regularisation policy marks a pragmatic approach by the UT administration, acknowledging the ground realities faced by residents of CHB colonies while aiming to bring order and compliance to urban housing norms.
