The Haryana government has decided to allow construction of buildings with a stilt and four floors in certain residential sectors, officials aware of the matter said on Monday.
Officials said the new policy was broadly based on recommendations from an expert committee. (HT Photo)
The development comes months before Haryana goes to the polls.
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Under the new policy, the state has allowed the construction of four floors with stilts in sectors where the layout plan allows for the building of four dwelling units per plot. This policy also extends to plots adjoining 10-metre roads where the layout plan allows for the building of three dwelling units per plot, contingent on the inking of a mutual consent agreement with all adjoining plot allottees, officials said.
In cases where such buildings have been constructed without approval of building plans, violators can apply for composition of offence on payment of a penalty 10 times the rate prescribed for raising constructions without getting building plans approved.
The move was applauded by developers, who called the decision a positive step towards increasing the availability of housing in Gurugram and the state. Residents, however, said the decision will only lead to an increase in construction and pollution.
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The move was applauded by developers, who called the decision a positive step towards increasing the availability of housing in Gurugram and the state. Residents, however, said the decision will only lead to an increase in construction and pollution.
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The stilt-plus-four-floors policy was initially brought by the state government in 2017 by amending the Haryana Building Code of the same year, and registrations of the fourth floor as a separate dwelling unit started by 2018.
However, authorities said that they were inundated with complaints from residents, who pointed out that a fourth floor in residential buildings was overburdening the existing infrastructure, damaging adjoining houses, and was leading to congestion on inner colony roads.
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Following extended protests from RWAs, the state on February 23, 2023 rolled back the approval for the policy, and constituted an expert committee to look into the issue. Officials said the new policy was broadly based on recommendations from this expert committee.
Developers welcomed the state government’s move
“I think the decision is a positive step towards increasing housing availability. However, convincing neighbors to give their consent might be a significant hurdle. Many people might resist due to concerns about privacy, sunlight, and increased density,” said Chirag Gehlot, vice president of real estate developer Central Park.
Residents, meanwhile, said the new policy will only add to congestion. “It will lead to a significant increase in construction activities, resulting in more pollution and noise… Allowing stilt plus four floor constructions will only add to the congestion in our already crowded neighborhoods. The increase in population density will exacerbate the existing issues of parking and traffic, making our daily lives even more challenging,” DLF Qutub Enclave RWA president Baljeet Singh Rathee said.
Hitender Rao is Senior Associate Editor covering the state of Haryana. Over the past three decades, he has reported on politics, governance, economy, migration, public policy and legal affairs. His work focuses on investigative and data driven journalism with a particular focus on government accountability, public institutions, corporate regulations and judiciary. A Fulbright- Humphrey scholar, he has covered elections, legislative developments, public finances, infrastructure, law enforcement and policy formulation, widely reporting on issues that shape governance and public life across the state through in depth reporting and analysis. He has also written extensively on migration issues and public administration focusing on how government decisions, institutions and corporate sector influence citizens and public policy.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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