The July 2024 notification had permitted S+4 residential buildings in the city
Gurgaon: Haryana govt’s stilt-plus-four (S+4) policy was rolled out without assessing the city’s already burdened infrastructure caused by “unchecked vertical expansion” in colonies, one of the petitioners told TOI, a day after Punjab and Haryana high court stayed govt’s move to allow it.While the July 2024 notification had permitted S+4 residential buildings in the city, petitioner Sunil Singh said it had created such congestion that in many places, emergency vehicles cannot pass easily. “You cannot multiply dwelling units on the same plot while roads, sewer lines and drainage systems remain the same. The city is already struggling — this will only push it towards collapse,” Singh, a resident of Sushant Lok 1, said.The policy, according to Singh, has led to rapid densification in residential sectors “without parallel upgrades” in civic services. He pointed out that in several sectors internal roads, officially designated as 10-12 metres wide, have narrowed due to encroachments, ramps and on-street parking.Advocate Nivedita Sharma, representing the petitioners, said the policy ignored key safeguards suggested by the govt’s own expert committee.
“The committee clearly recommended a scientific infrastructure capacity audit before permitting additional floors, especially in existing colonies. That exercise was never carried out,” Sharma said.She argued that permissions were granted in a blanket manner, without evaluating sector-wise carrying capacity. “Urban planning cannot be reduced to a one-size-fits-all notification. Each colony has different constraints and ignoring that has serious consequences,” she said.The petition also flags widespread violations on the ground, including misuse of stilt parking for commercial purposes and deviations from sanctioned building plans. According to Sharma, weak enforcement has compounded the problem. “Even existing norms are not being implemented strictly. Introducing higher density without fixing enforcement gaps only worsens the situation,” she said.Singh warned of cascading effects, including traffic congestion, sewage overflow, water shortages and increased risk during emergencies. “This is not just about buildings, it is about livability and safety,” Singh said.
