Gurgaon: A major crackdown on misuse of parking areas in upscale residential colonies has uncovered widespread violations in stilt-plus-four-floor (S+4) buildings. The Department of Town and Country Planning (Enforcement) has identified irregularities in 1,137 houses across 19 licensed colonies in the city.
The data accessed by TOI shows that 968 property owners have been served show-cause notices, while 18 buildings have been sealed for violating sanctioned building plans. The matter will be heard by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 12, when the department is expected to submit a detailed compliance report.
Colony-Wise Violations
DLF-2 recorded the highest number of violations, with 453 houses found violating stilt parking norms. It was followed by DLF-3 with 188 cases, DLF-1 with 169, and Sushant Lok-2 with 122. Violations were also found in DLF-4 (61), DLF-5 (53), Sushant Lok-3 (37), Sushant Lok-1 (24), and Palam Vihar (12), among other colonies.
Illegal Conversions
According to officials, inspections found that stilt areas designated for parking had been illegally converted into rooms, offices, and commercial establishments. In several instances, guest houses, PG accommodations, and showrooms were allegedly operating from these spaces. Some buildings also had reception counters and enclosed lobby areas built within parking zones.
Officials said misuse of stilt areas has worsened parking shortages and traffic congestion inside residential colonies, as vehicles are increasingly being parked on internal roads due to the absence of designated parking within buildings.
High Court Involvement
The issue has become significant after the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed further stilt-plus-four-floor construction in the city while hearing petitions challenging the policy. Petitioners argued that the city’s civic infrastructure, including roads, water supply, sewerage systems, and electricity networks, was never designed to handle the sharp rise in housing density under the policy.
The High Court directed the Haryana government and DTCP to file a status report on illegal construction in stilt parking areas and on action taken against encroachments on roads and public land.
Enforcement Actions
Officials said responses submitted by property owners to the notices are under review, and further enforcement action, including more sealing drives and legal proceedings, may follow in the coming weeks.
Residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) in several affected colonies have raised concerns over growing commercialisation of residential neighbourhoods through unauthorised use of stilt areas. Residents alleged conversion of parking spaces into guest houses and PG facilities has increased visitors’ vehicles, roadside parking and congestion on narrow internal roads, particularly during peak hours. In some pockets, encroachments and haphazard parking have also disrupted the movement of emergency vehicles.
“Enforcement teams conducted inspections following complaints from residents and directions issued during court proceedings,” a DTCP official said, adding that property owners found guilty of major deviations could face restoration orders mandating demolition of illegal structures and reopening of stilt areas for parking.
The department, according to sources, is preparing a colony-wise compliance matrix to track action against violators and identify repeat offenders. Civic agencies will coordinate enforcement in areas where public roads and green belts have also been encroached upon.
