Chandigarh Set to Become India’s First Slum-Free City

Chandigarh is on the verge of achieving a historic milestone — becoming the first slum-free city in India. With 17 out of 19 slum colonies already demolished, the city has reclaimed 504 acres of valuable land, worth over ₹20,000 crore. The remaining two slum settlements, spread over 15 acres, are next in line for clearance.

Once the last phase is completed, the total reclaimed land will reach 519 acres, with an estimated value of ₹21,000 crore. This valuation is based on a base price of ₹40 crore per acre — the same rate at which Chandigarh recently offered land to the Haryana Government for constructing a new Vidhan Sabha building.

What the Officials Say

Deputy Commissioner and UT Estate Officer Nishant Kumar Yadav shared the vision behind this initiative. He explained that Chandigarh, as designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in the early 1950s, was always meant to be a well-planned, slum-free city. However, over the decades, slums gradually developed on government land.

“We’ve successfully cleared 17 out of the 19 slum colonies. The final two are in the advanced stages of demolition. Our aim is to declare Chandigarh completely slum-free by the end of June,” said Yadav.

 A Vision Restored

This move not only reclaims high-value urban land but also restores the original blueprint of Chandigarh — a city envisioned to offer clean, organized, and dignified living conditions for all its residents.

What This Means

• Historic First: Chandigarh will be the first city in India to officially be slum-free.

• Urban Transformation: 519 acres of land can now be used for planned development, green spaces, public infrastructure, or affordable housing.

• A Model for India: Chandigarh’s success story could inspire similar initiatives in other cities battling unplanned urban growth.