chandigarh the architect department of the ut administration has refused the proposal of the chandigarh housing board to increase floor area ratio far of the citys costliest housing scheme in sector 53to revive the scheme and make it affordable for the general public the chb had planned to increase the far of flats but sources said the architect department has refused to do soin march the board had scrapped the scheme and decided to refund the amount to the applicants as per the demand survey however the officers were asked to consider framing of a new scheme with lesser costa senior ut official said that by increasing far the chb was planning to offer more space in flat with the same price the chb will now consider some other proposalschbs board of directors in a meeting in march decided the proposed general selffinancing housing scheme in sector 53 needs to be made more lucrative to reduce the land cost component the matter may be taken up with the administration to increase the far so that more flats can be constructed further the possibility of some changes in the specifications and design also need to be explored considering that framing a new scheme with lesser cost and further possible changes may take considerable time the board has decided to refund the amount deposited by the applicantsthere was a poor response to the demand survey of the scheme as only 178 applicants came up for 492 flats the chb had reduced prices of flats twice and even extended the deadline for demand survey after witnessing poor response the chb on january 14 further reduced prices by 5 to 7 and extended the date for submission of online application to february 24in july 2019 the chb had proposed a 3 bhk flat for rs 185 crore 2 bhk for rs 16 crore 1bhk for rs 115 crore and accommodation for the economicallyweaker section ews for rs 58 lakh drawing a lot of criticismthe board released a new price list on october 10 3bhk for rs 163 crore 2bhk for rs 136 crore 1bhk for rs 90 lakh and a tworoom flat for ews rs 50 lakh on january 14 the board decided that 3bhk will cost rs 15 crore 2bhk rs 128 crore 1 bhk rs 86 lakh and a tworoom flat for ews would remain unchanged at rs 50 lakh the board official had said persons applying under the demand survey would be given preference in allotment the scheme was proposed to be made open for all