Haryana's ‘Stilt-Plus-Four Floor’ Policy To Be Reviewed Next Week, Developers Oppose Ban And Demand Infrastructure Upgrade

The expert committee constituted to examine the policy allowing construction of ‘stilt plus four floors’ in residential plots in Haryana will hold a meeting on 16 May.

The committee, headed by P Raghavendra Rao, will review feedback from various departments on the implementation of the policy.

The panel will then submit their report to the state government for further consideration, reports Times of India.

The state of Haryana has been facing issues regarding the construction of stilt plus four floors in residential plots.

The government had initially allowed the construction of fourth floors independently — but this decision was met with opposition from the residents who believe that the infrastructure in the area is already bringing down.

The officials for the meeting include the HRera chairman, MCG commissioner, Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) administrator, Gurgaon deputy commissioner along with other senior officials.

According to the Haryana Building Code, these departments including DTCP, the department of urban local bodies, and HSIIDC are responsible for approving building plans for residential plots.

On 22 February 2023, the state government put approval of fourth floors on hold after wide-scale protests by residents' groups.

The following month, it set up the expert committee to devise the further course of action regarding suspension of approvals for fresh four floor building plans.

Licensed colony residents have pointed out that the existing infrastructure cannot cater to the current population's demands, let alone accommodate the construction of more floors.

Since the Haryana government allowed construction of stilt plus four floors in residential colonies in 2017, more than 20,000 floors have been constructed, but little work has been done to improve the infrastructure in the area.

Developers, on the other hand, are asking for an upgrade in civic infrastructure and for the resumption of the policy in the city.

They assert that there is a need for guidelines regarding construction norms, the environment, and other aspects of four-floor buildings, rather than the imposition of a ban.

They argue that there is a vast demand for independent builder floors in the city.

Since the registration of the fourth floor as an independent dwelling unit in 2019, the government has collected around Rs 1,000 crore from external development charges, as per a memorandum submitted by a group of builders to the expert committee.

Also read: Haryana Government’s Ban On “Stilt Plus Four Floors” Construction: What It Means For Gurugram’s Thriving Plotted Residential Developments