Punjab notifies unified building bylaws, allows stilt-plus-four floors in new urban housing projects
PTC Web Desk: The Punjab Government has officially notified its new unified building bylaws, clearing the way for higher residential construction in upcoming urban housing projects across the state. The bylaws, approved by the state Cabinet on October 28, have now come into force.
Under the revised norms, residential plots measuring up to 200 square yards can be developed along roads with a minimum width of 30 feet. For plots exceeding 200 square yards, the minimum road width requirement has been fixed at 40 feet. The new regulations permit stilt-plus-four floors in newly developed and licensed residential colonies within urban areas.
However, the move has drawn criticism from several town planners and architects, who have expressed concern that allowing additional floors could lead to excessive population density and strain on urban infrastructure.
In already planned and developed areas, the government has limited construction to stilt-plus-three floors. At the same time, the maximum allowable building height in these areas has been increased from 11 metres to 13 metres.
The policy shift is also seen as a step towards the implementation of the Apartment Act in Punjab. Once enforced, the Act would allow the sale of individual floors within residential buildings, something that is currently restricted due to the prohibition on land subdivision.
Originally, the government had proposed extending the stilt-plus-four provision to all urban areas. Following feedback from stakeholders, the plan was modified to apply only to newly developed licensed colonies and urban estate sectors. The aim, officials said, is to prevent overburdening existing civic amenities and infrastructure.
The revised bylaws are expected to have a major impact on housing development in key cities such as Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar, where demand for multi-storey residential units has been rising steadily.
- PTC NEWS
