The Chandigarh administration has confirmed that Shahpur Colony, the city’s last remaining slum, will be demolished on September 30, bringing an end to a decades-long campaign and allowing Chandigarh to be declared India’s first slum-free city.
Situated in Sector 38 (West), Shahpur Colony is spread across over four acres and have over 400 jhuggis and home to around 1500 people, mostly daily wage labourers. Notices have already been issued to residents asking them to vacate the land before the demolition drive begins next week. Officials said about 45 families have so far been approved for allotment of small flats under the government’s rehabilitation scheme.
The demolition of Shahpur follows a series of similar drives in recent years that cleared 18 slum clusters across the city. These operations have helped the administration reclaim over 520 acres of land, worth more than Rs 21,000 crore, for future development. Major demolitions in the past included Janta Colony in Sector 25 and Adarsh Colony near Sectors 53 and 54, which freed up significant parcels of prime land. The administration has announced that land reclaimed from Shahpur Colony will be redeveloped in line with the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031 for housing, commercial projects and green spaces.
For residents of Shahpur Colony, however, the looming demolition has triggered uncertainty and anxiety. Many have lived there for decades, working in nearby sectors as domestic workers, vendors, or labourers. Vijay Kumar, a construction worker who has lived in Shahpur for nearly 12 years, said he did not know where to go once his house was torn down. “I earn on a daily basis. If I am pushed far away from the city, I will spend half my income on travel just to get to work. How will my family survive?” he said.
Meena, who washes dishes in houses in Sector 37, said her biggest fear was for her children’s schooling. “My daughters go to the government school nearby. If we are moved suddenly, they will lose their studies. We are not against development, but the government should first give us a secure place before taking our homes,” she said.
Officials insist that September 30 will mark a historic moment for Chandigarh, as the city becomes free of slums for the first time since its creation.
Urban planners have welcomed the move as a significant step in reinforcing Chandigarh’s planned character, but human rights activists point out that the concerns of Shahpur’s residents highlight the human cost of such drives and the difficult balance between development and the livelihoods of those who stand to lose the most.