In a significant policy shift, the Chandigarh Union Territory's urban planning department has approved stilt-plus-six-floor structures for the Sector 53 housing scheme, marking a first for the city. This decision aims to maximize the use of limited land available in Chandigarh, which has restricted options for horizontal expansion. The Floor Area Ratio (FAR) has also been doubled from 1.2 to 2.4, facilitating higher-density development and making the project more attractive to private developers. The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is preparing to auction two land parcels totaling 4.49 acres, expected to yield around 250 flats each, targeting high-income buyers with three and four-bedroom units. This initiative aligns with directions from UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to split the land for auction. Despite a rise in estimated costs, with three-bedroom flats projected at ₹2.30 crore and two-bedroom units at ₹1.97 crore, demand remains robust, as evidenced by 7,468 applications for just 372 flats during a prior survey.