Haryana Government Greenlights Construction of Stilt-Plus-Four Floors with Conditions

Chandigarh, July 3, 2024 — In a significant policy shift, the Haryana government has lifted the suspension on new plan approvals for stilt-plus-four (S+4) floors on residential plots in licensed colonies and sectors, reinstating the approval process with specific conditions. This decision comes more than a year and a half after the state government had halted such approvals on February 23, 2023, in response to residents’ concerns about infrastructure strain.

Background and New Regulations

The suspension was initially implemented after residents of licensed colonies voiced their concerns regarding the burden that additional floors placed on existing infrastructure and civic amenities. Addressing these concerns, the Haryana government has now announced a conditional approval framework for S+4 construction.

Arun Gupta, the Additional Chief Secretary (Town and Country Planning), outlined the conditions under which these approvals would be granted. For plots in licensed colonies and sectors where the layout plan is approved with four dwelling units per plot, construction of stilt-plus-four floors is now allowed. However, for plots with layout plans approved for only three dwelling units per plot, the following conditions must be met:

1. Road Width Condition: The plot must be situated on roads that are 10 meters or wider.
2. Consent Requirement: Plot owners must either obtain mutual consent from all adjoining plot owners who have not already received approval for the fourth floor or maintain a side setback of 1.8 meters on all floors from the adjoining plots.

Failure to secure consent from adjoining plot owners will render those owners ineligible for future approvals on their plots.

Additional Restrictions and Permissions

The state government has also clarified additional restrictions and permissions:

• No restrictions on construction according to previously approved building plans before the suspension order of February 23, 2023.
• No permission for constructing a basement storey or transferring load onto a common wall, unless explicitly consented to in the mutual agreement with adjoining plot owners.
• No basement storey construction on plots with a width of less than 10 meters and an area of less than 250 square meters.

Gupta emphasized that detailed instructions for the implementation of these decisions will be issued. The office of the Additional Chief Secretary (Town and Country Planning) has been empowered to address any difficulties and provide clarifications regarding these new regulations.

Reactions from the Community

The decision has been welcomed by the home developers’ association. Narinder Yadav, president of the Gurgaon Home Developers and Plot Owners Association, stated, “Approval for the construction of four floors with stilt parking will benefit the common man as it will resolve housing needs.”

The Haryana government’s move to reintroduce S+4 construction approvals, albeit with conditions, is seen as a balanced approach to address the housing demand while managing the load on existing infrastructure. The remaining recommendations and guidelines are still under consideration, with further decisions expected to follow.

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