After years of delays and uncertainty, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is finally preparing to launch its long-pending General Housing Scheme in Sector-53 in the second week of September. This marks the board’s first housing offering in nearly a decade, with the last successful project rolled out back in 2016 in Sector-51.
Total Flats: 492 units across 8.98 acres
Buildings: Up to five storeys
Categories & Tentative Pricing (Post-April 1 Collector Rates):
HIG (3BHK): ~₹2.30 crore (↑ 39% from earlier ₹1.65 cr)
MIG (2BHK): ~₹1.97 crore (↑ 40.7% from earlier ₹1.40 cr)
EWS (2-room): ~₹74 lakh (↑ 34.3% from earlier ₹55 lakh)
Parking Facilities:
HIG flats – double-basement parking
MIG & EWS flats – single-basement parking
The steep prices are the result of the revised collector rates, which came into effect on April 1, 2025. Compared to earlier estimates, the costs have gone up by nearly 35%–40%, raising concerns about affordability.
A demand survey conducted earlier this year revealed that despite the high prices, interest remains extremely strong. Over 7,400 applicants expressed their willingness to buy, with the majority opting for HIG flats. However, the jump in prices has created uncertainty for many families who had expected rates to remain closer to the earlier estimates of ₹1.65 crore for a 3-BHK, ₹1.40 crore for a 2-BHK, and ₹55 lakh for an EWS unit.
During the survey, applicants deposited between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 each to confirm their interest. But now, even those who participated will need to submit fresh applications once the scheme formally launches.
The scheme had been stuck for years due to administrative indecision and repeated delays. In June this year, the UT Administrator gave CHB the go-ahead to move forward with the revised pricing. Environmental clearance has also been secured, with renewal fees already paid to the concerned department.
CHB’s last major housing project was in 2016, when it offered 200 two-bedroom flats in Sector-51 at a price of ₹69 lakh each. An earlier attempt to launch the Sector-53 scheme in 2018 had failed due to poor response, as prices at that time were also considered too high.
With this fresh push in 2025, the board is aiming to re-establish its role as a key housing provider in the city. The launch is being closely watched not only by applicants but also by the wider real estate community, as it may influence future housing trends in Chandigarh and the surrounding Tricity area.
Once the Sector-53 scheme is launched, the CHB will also shift focus towards its upcoming mega project in Sector-54, where nearly 1,700 flats are planned on a 32-acre site. Design and planning for that project are expected to conclude within the next few months, signaling a new phase of housing development for Chandigarh.
492 flats to be launched in Sector-53, across 9 acres.
Prices up 34–41% after April 2025 collector rate revision.
Demand survey: 7,468 applicants; 68% opted for HIG flats.
Reapplication required — earlier deposits will not carry forward.
Past failed attempts: 2018 (poor response), 2023 (tenders cancelled).
Final nod from UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria awaited.
Future project: 1,700 flats planned in Sector-54.