Chandigarh Nears Slum-Free Status With Shahpur Colony Demolition Drive
Shahpur Colony’s end marks Chandigarh as India’s first slum-free city.
Chandigarh’s ambitious journey to become India’s first slum-free city reaches its climax as the UT administration begins demolishing Shahpur Colony in Sector 38 (West), the city’s last remaining slum. This monumental operation deploys eight specialized teams armed with bulldozers, backed by nearly 500 police personnel to ensure order, and medical units with doctors, paramedics, and ambulances on standby for emergencies. Spanning four acres of prime government land valued at ₹250 crore, Shahpur Colony houses approximately 300 shanties and 1,000 residents, all of whom have been served eviction notices to vacate.
To streamline the demolition, the engineering department disconnected electricity and water supplies on Monday, mitigating risks during the operation. Post-demolition, the cleared land will be fenced to deter future encroachments, securing it for potential redevelopment. Chandigarh’s deputy commissioner, Nishant Yadav, chaired a final review meeting on Monday to iron out logistics, ensuring a seamless execution of this high-stakes initiative.
Chandigarh’s slum-free mission, launched in the early 2000s, has been a decades-long endeavor. The cornerstone of this effort, the Chandigarh Small Flats Scheme of 2006, allocated 356 acres—roughly 20% of the city’s vacant land—for constructing 25,728 flats to rehouse 23,841 families from 18 unauthorized colonies. These families, totaling over one lakh residents, were offered affordable rentals post-relocation. However, challenges like delays and unpaid dues have accumulated significant arrears, complicating the rehabilitation process.
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The UT administration’s relentless campaign has already reclaimed over 520 acres of land worth more than ₹21,000 crore by demolishing 18 of Chandigarh’s 19 slum colonies. This year alone, the city recovered land valued at ₹1,530 crore. Key operations included the June 19 demolition of Adarsh Colony in Sectors 53 and 54, which freed 12 acres, and the May 6 razing of Janta Colony in Sector 25, reclaiming 10 acres worth ₹350 crore. On April 24, over 1,000 makeshift structures in Sanjay Colony, Industrial Area, Phase 1, were leveled, liberating six acres valued at ₹300 crore.
The Shahpur demolition not only marks a historic milestone but also underscores Chandigarh’s transformation into a model of urban planning. While the administration celebrates this achievement, questions linger about the displaced residents’ future and the city’s plans for the reclaimed land. As bulldozers roll in, Chandigarh stands on the cusp of a new era, redefining itself as a beacon of progress in India’s urban landscape.
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