The Times of India           11.10.2010

PANCHKULA: Having received approval for its demarcation from state government, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is ready to create a new commercial sector in Mansa Devi Complex. HUDA will start work for this project by inviting bidders for auctions during November. The new commercial sector will have 12 major features including hotel, shopping mall, multiplex, commercial sites, multilevel parking, fire station, public utility service centers and amusement park.

Sources in HUDA revealed that new Sector which would be numbered 5B would have a 52-acre area and bid for that invited soon. The new planned sector will be similar to Sector 5 in Panchkula. HUDA authorities have also decided to build a railway underbridge to connect sectors 5B and 6. "A total of 13.57 acres area is still disputed and there is a court stay on it. That will be auctioned when the matter is sorted out in court. The remaining land is available for auction," said a senior HUDA official.

Property market watchers in the city stated the new site was the biggest of its kind in Panchkula and it was to be developed earlier, but government policies delayed that. Now HUDA needs to adopt a professional approach for the growth of the MDC, they added. Akhil Sharma, a property dealer, said, "They have just got approval for demarcation. We can expect interest when bids are sought."

Suresh Aggarwal, president of Property Dealers Welfare Association, Haryana, said this was a very good sign for the development of the area and would also improve the lifestyle of residents as they would not need to visit Chandigarh for reasons like shopping, etc. HUDA administrator, Surjeet Singh said they will soon hold meetings with various authorities and decide on the auction process and its tentative dates. "According to the master plan, this will be a fully-commercial site and of great value due to its nearness to Chandigarh, Panchkula, Manimajra and Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park," he added.