Housing board allows to install lifts in housing societies

CHB chairman Maninder Singh said the decision has been taken keeping in mind the welfare of the residents, especially senior citizens.
The lifts will be installed either inside the building or outside depending on the design of the buildings. The residents of each society will have to bear the expenditure for installing the lifts after taking permission from the board.

Welcoming the decision, CHB Resident Federation secretary Rajat Malhotra said they have been demanding for the same from some time now. “The residents will be benefited from the move,” he said.

In another significant development, the board has decided to upload all the 33 standard designs for different categories online, which were notified by the Chandigarh administration for need-based changes in 2010.

Maninder Singh said they want to save the residents from harassment. “All the approved standard designs will be uploaded online and residents can make the changes according to their needs,” he said.

In 2010, the owners were asked to submit their revised building plans along with violations within six months from the date of notification of 33 standard designs. However, till date the administration has failed to implement the notified need-based changes. “The designs will be implemented very shortly,” said Maninder.

In the absence of policy allowing need-based changes, over the years the owners of the CHB dwellings have made changes according to their need that have not been regularised by the board.

In 2014, the board had started issuing notices for resumption of properties having building violations, creating panic among the owners. Following several representation, these notices were stopped till a policy is framed on need-based changes.

“The board should regularise all the changes made by owners within the four walls,” said Malhotra.