Chandigarh’s administration is considering doubling the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in its industrial areas from 0.75 to 1.5 to boost competitiveness and address long-standing industry demands.
UT Administration Considers Doubling Floor Area Ratio in Chandigarh
The UT administration is considering increasing the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in Chandigarh’s industrial areas from 0.75 to 1.5. This move aims to meet the changing needs of the industrial sector.
Current FAR Comparisons
| Location | Current FAR |
|---|---|
| Chandigarh | 0.75 |
| Mohali | 2 to 3 |
| Panchkula | 2 to 2.5 |
FAR is an urban planning tool that sets the maximum total floor area of a building based on the size of its land plot. The proposal to change the FAR was discussed in a recent meeting of a high-level committee. This committee was formed by the UT administrator on December 26 last year and is chaired by deputy commissioner-cum-estate officer Nishant Kumar Yadav. It includes 11 other members from various departments, such as the chief architect and the chief engineer.
A senior UT official, who is part of the committee, stated that the panel will meet again this week before sending recommendations to the UT administrator for approval.
Long-standing Demands from Industrialists
Industrialists have sought a FAR revision for over two decades. They argue that neighboring industrial hubs offer better development potential, with FARs of 2 to 3 in Mohali and between 2 and 2.5 in Panchkula. Industrialist Chander Verma noted that Chandigarh’s industrial areas have lost their competitive edge due to strict building regulations. He emphasized the need to modernize planning norms to attract industries.
Industrialists are also asking for the withdrawal of building misuse and violation notices. They point out that the FAR has not changed in nearly four decades, despite evolving industrial needs. A 2018 notification from the UT administration allowed partial covering of central courtyards for storage without affecting FAR. However, they claim that 90% of violation notices in the past five years relate to this issue. They also mentioned that the Union ministry of industrial policy and promotion had called for a review of local policies, but little progress has been made.
The industry is urging the administration to revise FAR norms for smaller plots, ranging from five to one kanal, similar to the relief given to larger plots over two kanals.
Other Proposed Reforms
In addition to FAR revision, the committee is considering changes to ground coverage norms and land-use regulations. They aim to adopt a flexible zoning framework for mixed-use development. The committee will define permissible and non-permissible activities based on the Chandigarh Master Plan (CMP) 2031 and approved layout plans. They are also looking into allowing mixed land use in transit-oriented development (TOD) zones.
Furthermore, the committee will review minimum road width requirements for different types of industries in rural areas and finalize planning parameters for Industrial Area Phase III, especially regarding internal road widths.
