DLF-3 Property Owners in Gurugram Given Two Weeks to Correct Illegal Extensions
The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) in Gurugram has given the owners of 600 properties in DLF-3 until the first week of March to restore their buildings to their original forms. This follows the discovery of illegal constructions and the misuse of residential buildings for commercial purposes. If the property owners fail to comply, they could face harsh legal actions including the revocation of occupancy certificates, sealing of properties, and disconnection of essential utilities such as water and sewage.
The crackdown comes after a petition raised concerns over building code violations in DLF-3, prompting the Punjab and Haryana High Court to intervene. On the court’s orders, the DTCP conducted inspections across 15,000 properties in DLF-1 to DLF-5. Among these, 4,200 properties were found to have violated norms, with a significant number of violations occurring in economically weaker section (EWS) housing areas.
Many EWS plots, intended for affordable housing, have been illegally transformed into multi-storey buildings, with some reaching as many as eight floors. These properties were often repurposed for commercial uses like paying guest (PG) facilities or rented out to businesses, breaching the original intent of these residential units. Additionally, over 500 properties were found to have illegally constructed rooms in stilt areas, enclosed backyard spaces, and even expanded rooftops. The illegal construction not only disrupts the planned structure of the area but has also put a strain on local infrastructure, leading to parking congestion and overflowing sewage systems. These violations have raised concerns about the safety of the buildings, as they fail to meet the necessary building codes.
While some property owners have voiced objections to the DTCP’s actions, others have welcomed the move. Rajiv Malhotra, a resident of DLF-3, expressed relief at the authorities’ intervention. “This action was long overdue. The unchecked illegal construction has made the area almost unlivable. Roads are choked, parking is a nightmare, and basic infrastructure is overwhelmed. We support the authorities’ efforts to restore order and bring back the residential character to our neighbourhood,” he said. The latest phase of enforcement involves restoration notices being issued to the 600 property owners, giving them one to two weeks to revert the buildings to their original state and halt any ongoing commercial activities. Amit Madholia, district town planner (enforcement), stated that non-compliance would lead to strict legal action, including the sealing of properties and disconnection of utilities.
This move is part of a broader effort by the DTCP to address illegal constructions across Gurugram, especially in areas that have been subjected to rapid and often unregulated growth. The department has stressed that it will ensure strict adherence to the high court’s orders, with full compliance expected to avoid further escalation. For now, the clock is ticking for the 600 DLF-3 property owners. With only two weeks left to make the necessary changes, the stakes are high for those who wish to avoid facing severe penalties. The situation highlights the growing challenges of urban development in rapidly expanding areas like Gurugram, where the need for regulation and enforcement is becoming more urgent.
