Mohali, Aug. 27 -- After a delay of over 12 years, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is finally set to launch the Ecocity-2 (Extension) scheme in New Chandigarh's Hoshiarpur village in the last week of September. This will be GMADA's eighth township project. Spread over 96 acres, the new township will include both residential and commercial plots. The residential plots, 135 of one-kanal and 18 of two-kanal, will be priced at Rs.5,500 per square yard. While the residential plots will be allotted through a draw of lots, the commercial sites will be auctioned. Although GMADA had acquired the land in 2013 under land pooling policy, compensated the landowners, and carved out plots, the project remained stalled for years due to the absence of a social-impact assessment. An official from GMADA's engineering wing confirmed that tenders worth Rs.50 crore have already been floated for roads, water supply, sewerage, and electrical works. "We have even applied for environmental clearance and expect to receive it within a week," the official said. A senior GMADA official said, "For the first time, GMADA will be introducing 300-square-yard commercial showrooms and 60-square-yard double-storey bay shops." Meanwhile, local landowners expressed concern over the long delay. Avtar Singh Walia, one of the affected landowners, said, "We struggled for years for this launch. Most landowners opted for the land-pooling scheme, but despite payments being made and land possession taken, the project remained stagnant for over a decade. We now urge authorities to expedite the work."...