Industrial Area Phase-III: A vision still waiting to rise
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Chandigarh: Despite clear directives and decades of planning, the much-anticipated development of Industrial Area Phase-III has remained just a vision. Two years after the then UT adviser instructed officials to fast-track the project, not a single brick has been laid.
Originally envisioned in 1977 as part of the Chandigarh Urban Complex Plan, Phase-III was meant to complement the thriving Phases I and II. Yet, while those zones have evolved — and even faced challenges like industrial migration — Phase-III is still a blueprint on paper.
Following the directions from the then UT adviser, around 20 sites were identified by the estate office for auction, but these never materialised.
Industrial Area Phase-III is located near the villages of Raipur Kalan and Mauli Jagran. It is triangular in shape, bounded by the link road to Mauli Jagran/Raipur Kalan, Route No.2 on the northern side, the Panchkula/UT state boundary side, and the Ambala Chandigarh railway line on the south-western side. It has an approach through the railway station road from the village of Daria, and the village of Raipur Kalan falls in the Industrial Area Phase-III.
The proposal to establish Phase-III was initiated as part of the Chandigarh Urban Complex Plan, which was prepared by the interstate working group as per the direction of the Coordination Committee constituted by the govt of India. The Industrial Area for Panchkula was also proposed simultaneously and in close vicinity. Initially proposed on 114 acres, the area was later increased to 153 acres. It has plots of varying sizes, ranging from marla plots to 4 kanal plots.
Land for Industrial Area Phase-III was acquired in 2003, and the detailed planning for Phase-III was also undertaken in 2003.
"The area being in close proximity to the railway station was visualised as a major hub of warehousing. Nearly one-third of the area has been reserved for warehousing. Plotted sites for industrial units are only around 10% of the total Phase-III area. Nearly 80 acres have been reserved for green areas, parking, and other similar activities," a UT official said.
Boxes: Strategically located
Nestled near Raipur Kalan and Mauli Jagran, the triangular Phase-III is strategically placed. It's bordered by key transport routes and lies close to the Ambala-Chandigarh railway line, making it ideal for logistics and warehousing. The area spans 153 acres, with a layout that includes:
Warehousing: 45 acres
Industrial plots: 14.65 acres
Roads & parking: 43.97 acres
Green/open spaces: 36.44 acres
Sail steel stock yard: 10 acres
Sewage treatment plant: 0.91 acres
What went wrong?
Despite identifying 20 sites for auction, the estate office never followed through.
Bureaucratic inertia and shifting priorities have left the area undeveloped. Ironically, while Phase-III was designed to be a warehousing powerhouse, only 10% of its land is earmarked for industrial units.
Changing dynamics
As Phases I and II grapple with industrial units migrating to nearby cities, the UT administration is under pressure to rethink land use. There's talk of allowing business-to-consumer activities and land use conversion, signaling a shift from pure industrial planning to a more mixed-use model.
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