Chandigarh Declared India’s First Slum-Free City as Shahpur Colony Falls
Chandigarh Becomes Slum-Free City Chandigarh has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first slum-free city in India. The Union Territory Administration completed this transformation with the demolition of Shahpur Colony in Sector 38 on Tuesday. This final clearance marks the culmination of a decade-long initiative aimed at reclaiming encroached government land and providing dignified housing for slum dwellers.
Shahpur Colony Demolition The removal of Shahpur Colony, which had nearly 300 tenements housing around 1,000 residents, reclaimed five acres of land worth approximately Rs 250 crore. Prior to the clearance, eligible families were rehabilitated under the Chandigarh Small Flats Scheme, 2006, and provided with EWS flats at multiple sites including Dhanas, Ram Darbar, Mauli Jagran, Industrial Area Phase I, and Sector 49.
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12-Year Drive to Eliminate Slums Since 2012, Chandigarh’s administration has been carrying out one of India’s most ambitious slum clearance initiatives. Over the years, 18 colonies including Kalyan, Ambedkar, Colony No. 4, and Sanjay Colony were demolished, together ensuring the recovery of more than 520 acres of land valued at around Rs 21,000 crore. Each clearance was coupled with coordinated rehabilitation efforts for displaced families
Major Clearances in 2025 The year 2025 proved decisive with large-scale clearances across the city. Janta Colony, Chandigarh’s largest slum cluster, was demolished in May, reclaiming 10 acres of land worth Rs 350 crore. Similarly, Sanjay Colony in April and Adarsh Colony in June collectively added 18 acres of reclaimed land worth Rs 1,000 crore to the government’s assets. This reinforced the administration’s commitment to sustainable urban renewal.
A Model for Urban Renewal Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav emphasized that Chandigarh’s achievement highlights a blend of rehabilitation, enforcement, and inclusive growth. The initiative not only safeguarded valuable land but also provided thousands of slum residents access to better living conditions. With this milestone, Chandigarh has set an inspiring example of planned urban development that other cities across India can follow.
