The Chandigarh Administration today launched a massive demolition drive at Shahpur Colony in Sector 38 West, clearing the city’s last standing slum cluster in its push to declare Chandigarh India’s first slum-free city.
The operation, which began early Tuesday morning, is targeting nearly 500 hutments spread over six acres of government land. Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav confirmed the action on his social media handle, noting that police and medical teams have been deployed in large numbers to ensure smooth execution. More than 500 police personnel are on the ground to maintain order as bulldozers and JCBs move through the settlement, while doctors, paramedics and ambulances remain stationed nearby to respond to emergencies.
Authorities said that families found eligible under the rehabilitation scheme were shifted in advance to small flats and relocation sites. Around 70 families have already been allotted housing units, while others were instructed to vacate the land ahead of today’s drive. “Every eligible family has been provided proper accommodation. The process is being conducted in a planned, humane manner,” a senior official overseeing the operation said.
The demolition of Shahpur Colony marks the culmination of a sustained campaign by the UT Administration to clear all slum settlements in Chandigarh. Over the past year, large-scale drives were carried out in colonies such as Janta Colony, Sanjay Colony and Adarsh Colony. Officials estimate that these actions together have helped reclaim more than 500 acres of prime government land, valued at over Rs 20,000 crore.
To prevent repeat encroachments, the administration has planned to fence and secure the cleared area immediately after demolition. The reclaimed land is likely to be put to public use or integrated into development projects, aligning with the city’s master plan.
For Chandigarh, a city conceived as a model of urban planning, today’s demolition is being seen as a watershed moment. With Shahpur Colony gone, the administration is poised to formally declare the city free of slum settlements, a feat no other Indian city has yet achieved.
