The Union Territory of Chandigarh has officially been declared India’s First Slum-Free City, marking the successful culmination of a decade-long urban renewal and rehabilitation drive.
The city cemented its new status earlier this month with the demolition of its last remaining slum settlement, Shahpur Colony in Sector 38. The colony, which covered approximately five acres of valuable government land, has been cleared, and the area is slated for transformation into well-planned public spaces, including green parks and clean streets, in line with the city’s original master plan.
The demolition of the 300-hutment settlement at Shahpur Colony, which housed nearly 1,000 residents, is the final phase of a sustained campaign that has seen the Chandigarh Administration clear 18 slum colonies and reclaim over 520 acres of public land.
Planned Rehabilitation: Before the demolition, the administration successfully screened and relocated eligible families under the Chandigarh Small Flats Scheme, 2006, allotting them Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats in various sectors.
Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav stated that the achievement is a testament to the city’s “combination of planned rehabilitation, strategic demolitions, and strict enforcement,” which not only recovers valuable public land but also provides thousands of residents with dignified housing and improved living conditions.
Chandigarh’s new milestone sets a national benchmark, fulfilling the original vision of the city’s architect, Le Corbusier, for a meticulously planned and slum-free urban center.
