Chandigarh, April 14 -- With the UT administration imposing a sharp hike in the city's collector rates, the future of the much-anticipated General Housing Scheme in Sector 53 by the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) now seems uncertain.

After the new rates took effect from April 1, the cost of the proposed flats has surged by 35% to 40%, leaving CHB officials pondering whether the initial demand for the project, established through a survey in February, will hold up.

Under the new collector rates, a three-bedroom flat's price will rise from Rs.1.65 crore to Rs.2.29 crore, a two-bedroom flat from Rs.1.40 crore to Rs.1.97 crore and an EWS (economically weaker section) flat from Rs.55 lakh to Rs.73 lakh.

This steep rise raises doubts over wh...