Chandigarh Business Council Delegation Meets East & South SDMs, Seeks Urgent Reforms for Business-Friendly Chandigarh
The Voice of Chandigarh News
A five-member delegation of the Chandigarh Business Council (CBC), led by President Ajay Gupta, met Mr. Paviter Singh, PCS, SDM (East) & Assistant Estate Officer-I, and Ms. Isha Kamboj, HCS, SDM (South), Director, Museum & Art Gallery and Joint Secretary, Local Government, to discuss key issues affecting traders, industrialists, MSMEs, professionals, startups and market associations in Chandigarh.
The delegation comprised Ajay Gupta (President), Neeraj Bajaj (Chief Patron), Chander Verma (Chief Adviser), Satpal Garg (Chief Adviser), and Jagdish Arora (Chairman).
During the meeting, CBC submitted a detailed memorandum and urged the Administration to introduce practical reforms that would improve the ease of doing business while preserving Chandigarh’s planned urban character.
The Council particularly emphasized the following issues:
- Modernization of outdated building bye-laws and trade norms, especially for box-type commercial buildings (SCFs/SCOs) in Sectors 1–30, which no longer meet present-day business requirements.
- Review of excessively high building violation penalties, stating that the existing penalties are disproportionate for minor or technical deviations and require a more rational and equitable framework.
- Relaxation of restrictive norms governing commercial property usage and expansion, enabling businesses to adapt to changing market needs without unnecessary procedural hurdles.
- Permission for safe SCF/SCO conversions and internal redesigns to improve functionality, customer safety and efficient utilization of commercial spaces.
- Simplification of procedures for change of trade and approval of minor internal modifications, reducing delays and unnecessary compliance burdens on businesses.
A balanced approach towards sealing notices and enforcement, particularly in cases involving technical or non-structural deviations, with greater emphasis on compliance and rectification rather than punitive action.
The memorandum also highlighted concerns relating to industrial area infrastructure, parking and traffic management, delays in property registration and mutation, disaster preparedness, and the need for regular institutional dialogue between the Administration and the business community.
Both officers appreciated CBC’s constructive approach and assured the delegation that the concerns and recommendations would be examined sympathetically in coordination with the concerned departments. The Council reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Chandigarh Administration to create a progressive, transparent and business-friendly environment for the city’s trade and industrial sectors.
