Following a stay on the stilt-plus-four floors policy on residential plots by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday, the department of town and country planning (DTCP) has launched a statewide exercise to collect data on infrastructure, encroachments, and fund utilisation, officials said on Wednesday.
DTCP has directed urban agencies to submit detailed information by May 1, ahead of the next hearing scheduled for May 4. The move follows a 2024 public interest litigation challenging the policy on grounds of inadequate infrastructure in residential colonies. The high court had stayed the policy in Gurugram and ordered removal of encroachments as per law.
Officials said that after a high-level meeting chaired by the additional chief secretary, town and country planning on Wednesday, agencies including the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) and the department of urban local bodies (DULB) were asked to submit data on funds collected and utilised under external development charges and proportionate development charges.
Authorities have also been asked to provide timelines for utilisation of existing funds and estimates of additional funds required for infrastructure upgrades. DTCP has sought details on existing infrastructure and planning studies to assess whether cities can support additional housing under the policy.
The department has further sought information on encroachments on internal roads and right of way, including details of drives, steps taken for removal, photographic evidence, violations in stilt floors and show cause notices issued to violators. Officials said the compiled data will be submitted before the high court during the next hearing.
DTCP has also directed that approvals for stilt + 4 floors be halted in Gurugram by disabling submissions on “the S+4 portal” and the online building plan approval system (OBPAS).
The memo issued by the director, town and country planning on April 29 stated, “Total funds collected by all concerned departments/authorities/agencies such as TCP deptt., HSVP, DULB, HSIIDC, concerned ULBs etc. Status of utilization of said funds by all concerned departments/authorities/agencies such as TCP deptt., HSVP, DULB, HSIIDC, concerned ULBs etc., Metropolitan Development Authorities, including complete details regarding project areas where such amount has been spent.”
