Two new townships ready
The two new townships, Eco City-I and Eco City-II, developed by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority in New Chandigarh are ready. Out of the 4, 386 residential plots in these townships, 3,724 plots have already been allotted while the rest have been kept for landowners under the land pooling scheme and the mandatory auction scheme. Also, around 376 commercial sites will be auctioned. The authority has spent around B192 crore on the internal and external development of Eco City-I, and B83 crore on developing Eco City-II. Another new township, Aerotropolis, is coming up over 5,350 acres in the vicinity
of the international airport.
Property tax ultimatum
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has written to the Chandigarh Administration to pay property tax on government houses and buildings which is due for the last five years. The corporation will initiate recovery proceedings by attaching the properties if the dues are not paid before July 31. The property tax dues of 4,936 government houses and 9,504 government flats come to around B4.16 crore. The property tax dues have been pending since 2013, when the administration had notified the imposition of property tax on residential buildings. The arrears have been calculated with interest till July 31.
Chandigarh to have monorail?
The Chandigarh Administration is planning to have a monorail as an alternative mode of mass transport in the city as it has shelved plans for a metro. A Switzerland-based company, Intamin Transportation Limited, has given a presentation as well as a proposal for constructing the monorail network. As per the proposal, the project will connect Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. In the first phase, 20 kilometres will be constructed. The monorail will have the capacity to ferry 10,000 to 12,000 passengers per hour per direction. The cost of construction will be around B2,500 crore (B125 crore per km).
Stricter fire safety norms
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is all set to make no-objection certificates for fire mandatory for residential buildings. At present, fire NOCs are required only for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. People will be required to submit a fire protection plan detailing the access and escape routes, and firefighting equipment such as fire alarms, heat detectors and sprinklers.
Plots allowed to be amalgamated
The Chandigarh Administration has allowed the amalgamation of two or more adjoining residential plots with the same ownership as the administration has notified rules called Chandigarh Building Rules (Urban) Amendment - 2018. The development control regulations category of plot and coverage norms will be applicable as per the size of the plots after amalgamation.
Harpreet Bajwa
Our correspondent in Chandigarh
hsbajwa73@gmail.com