Chandigarh: The Punjab government has formally brought into effect a new set of unified building bylaws, permitting construction of stilt parking with up to four floors in newly developed residential areas across urban parts of the state. The rules, which received cabinet approval on October 28, have now been officially notified.
As per the revised norms, residential plots measuring up to 200 square yards can be developed along roads that are at least 30 feet wide. For larger plots exceeding 200 square yards, a minimum road width of 40 feet has been mandated. The government says these provisions aim to standardise construction practices and support planned urban growth.
However, the changes have triggered concern among sections of the planning community. Town planners and architects have cautioned that higher permissible construction could accelerate overcrowding and strain civic amenities if not backed by robust infrastructure planning.
The regulations draw a distinction between new and existing developments. While stilt-plus-four floors will be allowed in newly approved colonies and urban estates, older and already developed areas will be restricted to stilt-plus-three floors. In such locations, the permissible building height has been increased from 11 metres to 13 metres.
Officials say the updated bylaws will also enable the state to roll out the Apartment Act more effectively. The proposed framework would allow individual ownership of separate floors within a building, addressing a long-standing demand in urban housing markets, where subdivision of land is currently restricted.
The government had initially considered extending the stilt-plus-four provision to all urban areas. However, after consultations with stakeholders, the scope was narrowed to prevent overloading existing infrastructure in established neighbourhoods. The revised approach is expected to influence residential development patterns in fast-growing cities such as Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.
While the government maintains that the unified bylaws will bring clarity and consistency to construction norms, critics argue that careful implementation and infrastructure upgrades will be key to ensuring sustainable urban expansion.
