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The Chandigarh administration has cleared Adarsh Colony, an informal settlement between Sectors 53 and 54, reclaiming 12 acres of government land valued at INR 350 crore. Around 800 structures were demolished in the drive, part of a broader campaign to make the city slum-free. Officials said the area was under illegal occupation for 2.5 years, despite relocation offers to eligible families. Earlier this year, Janta Colony and Sanjay Colony were also cleared, bringing the total reclaimed land to over 500 acres from 18 major slums. Only Shahpur Colony remains, with future action planned. The campaign supports Chandigarh's original planned city vision.
The Chandigarh administration has completed a significant demolition drive against an unauthorized settlement in South Chandigarh. This recent operation is a crucial part of its determined effort to become a city free of informal colonies, reclaiming valuable public land from long-term occupation. Advertisement
The latest action saw the clearing of Adarsh Colony, situated between sectors 53 and 54. This specific drive resulted in the recovery of around 12 acres of prime government land, reportedly valued at INR 350 crore. The operation involved demolishing approximately 800 makeshift dwellings.
Officials stated that these structures were mostly vacant, and the land had been under illegal occupation for a period of 2.5 years, even after alternative accommodation was offered to eligible residents in Kalkaji Extension between November 2022 and May 2023. These eligible households, totaling 1,862 from Adarsh Colony, met criteria based on voter lists from 2012-2015 and specific documents, as per the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board's rehabilitation policy.
While residents claimed no rehabilitation was provided and they were left without shelter, officials maintained that ample notices and warnings had been served, and a petition against the drive was dismissed by the high court.
In the past two months alone, two other significant slum clusters were also cleared: Janta Colony in Sector 25 (May 6), where 10 acres of government land worth INR 350 crore were reclaimed after demolishing 2,500 structures and removing over 10,000 residents; and Sanjay Colony in Industrial Area Phase 1 (April 24), which saw the reclamation of 6 acres of government land worth INR 250 crore, with 1,200 hutments razed and about 6,000 people evicted.
Overall, out of 19 major slums originally identified in the city, 18 have now been demolished, leading to the recovery of over 500 acres of public land. The remaining major slum cluster on government land is Shahpur Colony in Sector 38, which has about 300 shanties spread over 4 acres, valued at INR 150 crore. Action in this area, predominantly on private agricultural land, will proceed under the Periphery Act. The campaign to make Chandigarh slum-free dates back to the early 2000s, aiming to realize the original vision of its planner, Le Corbusier.
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