Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Chandigarh has officially cleared its last remaining slum cluster following a large-scale demolition operation on Tuesday morning in Sector 38 West, marking a major step in its urban development journey. The Shahpur Colony, home to nearly 500 makeshift homes, was razed in a pre-dawn drive led by the UT Estate Office’s Enforcement Wing.
The demolition started around 7 am with support from nearly 500 police personnel who were deployed to manage the crowd and maintain peace at the site. Heavy machinery, including JCBs and porcelain cutters, was brought in to speed up the process and ensure a coordinated clearance of the encroached land.
Officials confirmed that the operation was part of a long-term plan to reclaim public land and make the city free of unauthorized slum settlements. The colony, spread over six acres, housed approximately 2,000 people. While most of the residents had vacated the premises before the demolition began, around 70 eligible families were provided with alternative housing under the UT Administration’s rehabilitation scheme.
Health teams, including doctors and ambulances, were stationed at the site as a precautionary measure in case of medical emergencies during the operation.
Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav had reviewed the preparations for the drive a day earlier, signaling the administration’s firm resolve to conclude its slum clearance agenda.
With the removal of Shahpur Colony, Chandigarh has now cleared all 19 identified slum colonies, reclaiming over 500 acres of valuable public land—worth an estimated ₹20,000 crore. The city is now being hailed as India’s first officially “slum-free” city.
Earlier this year, major evictions took place at Adarsh Colony and Janta Colony, followed by demolitions in Sanjay Colony in the Industrial Area, as part of this ongoing effort.
Fencing and permanent boundaries will be installed around the newly cleared land to prevent future encroachments, officials added.
