Panchkula, May 3 -- The construction of stilt-plus-four (S+4) residential buildings has emerged as the most polarising issue in the run-up to the Panchkula Municipal Corporation elections on May 10. While political parties have largely sidestepped the topic in their manifestos, for the residents of Panchkula's planned sectors, the policy is a primary grievance.

At the heart of the debate is a clash between urban density and the preservation of the city's original character, a battle that is now playing out both on the streets and in the courtroom. The S+4 policy has followed an erratic trajectory, initially notified in 2019 and later suspended in February 2023 following widespread protests. Reinstated in July 2024 with revised conditions...