Project Caught in Bureaucratic Delays Despite High Demand

Thousands of applicants stuck in frustrating wait with no clarity about launch date even a month after demand survey

- Hillary Victor

CHANDIGARH: The highly anticipated General Housing Scheme in Sector 53 by the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has become yet another victim of bureaucratic delays, leaving thousands of hopeful applicants in uncertainty.

Despite a promising response to the demand survey, the scheme remains entangled in unexplained administrative hurdles, with no clear timeline for its launch. As a result, applicants relying on CHB for affordable housing are caught in a frustrating wait, with their deposited fees also stuck in limbo.

It has been a month since the demand survey concluded on March 3, during which as many as 7,468 applicants registered interest for the 372 flats on offer across three categories.

The demand survey was conducted on the directions of UT chief secretary Rajeev Verma, who is also the chairman of CHB, after board officers gave a presentation for the scheme's revival on January 17. As the board had last conducted a similar survey only in 2018, they were asked to conduct one afresh.

However, CHB officials have yet to submit the survey results to the chairman, effectively stalling the process.