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Panchkula: Vertical growth on fragile foundation
The S+4 policy in Panchkula has a long and contested trajectory, from initial notification in 2019 to suspension in 2023, then reinstatement in 2024. As elections approach in May 2026, residents allege infrastructure stress and personal losses, while courts prepare to hear petitions challenging the policy.
Why It Matters
The dispute centers on urban density versus preserving the city’s character, with potential implications for housing, infrastructure, and governance in Panchkula ahead of the municipal elections.
Timeline
9 Events
High court hearing on S+4 notification scheduled
May 4, 2026
The Punjab and Haryana High Court is hearing petitions challenging the S+4 notification, with a critical hearing scheduled for May 4, 2026, just days before Panchkula goes to the polls.
Political leaders react to the policy and its impact
May 3, 2026
BJP’s Shyam Lal Bansal acknowledges rising prices drive floor-wise ownership but stresses legal safeguards for neighbours; Congress’s Sudha Bhardwaj criticises the policy for harming aesthetics and causing congestion; INLD’s Manoj Aggarwal calls for restricting such builds to newly developing sectors; AAP’s Rajesh Kumar expresses support for residents’ opposition.
HSV PPR official statements on transition and complaints
May 3, 2026
A Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) official says the department is managing the transition with fewer than five new applications per month, and that 95% of neighbour-related complaints are resolved amicably; empanelled structural engineers oversee new builds.
Personal toll: Sector 11 resident seeks compensation
May 3, 2026
Pramod Hans, a Sector 11 resident, alleges his house suffered tilting walls and structural cracks due to a neighboring S+4 project; PEC linked the damage to the construction, but ₹35 lakh in compensation remains unpaid and he has pursued relief in court.
Residents mobilise and evidence gathering ahead of local elections
May 3, 2026
As reported on May 3, 2026, Panchkula residents are mobilising to secure a similar extension to the policy, with resident welfare associations collecting photographic evidence of congestion and infrastructure strain in anticipation of the May 10 municipal elections.
Interim stay affecting Gurugram area
April 2, 2026
An interim stay on the S+4 policy was issued on April 2, 2026 and applied to Gurugram following a spot inspection there, highlighting judicial scrutiny of the policy.
S+4 policy reinstated with revisions
July 2024
The policy was reinstated in July 2024 with revised conditions, resuming its consideration in Panchkula's planning framework.
S+4 policy suspended following protests
February 2023
The S+4 policy was suspended in February 2023 after widespread protests, halting its implementation pending review.
S+4 policy first notified in 2019
2019
The stilt-plus-four (S+4) policy for Panchkula was first notified in 2019, marking the start of the policy's trajectory in the city.