For years, Mohali was largely viewed as Chandigarh’s quieter neighbouring city — a planned urban extension where people lived, while much of the region’s commercial, cultural and economic gravity remained centred around Chandigarh itself.
Between 2007 and 2022, Mohali certainly expanded in size. New sectors emerged, housing projects multiplied and landmark developments like Aerocity and IT City entered the city’s long-term planning narrative. Yet despite this geographical growth, Mohali still struggled to establish a strong independent urban identity of its own.
Large parts of the city remained dependent on Chandigarh for:
- commercial activity,
- lifestyle movement,
- entertainment,
- office ecosystems,
- and premium retail experiences.
Infrastructure growth during this phase often appeared slower than the city’s ambitions. Several major projects remained under development for years, road connectivity between newer sectors evolved gradually and many emerging areas lacked the urban momentum expected from Punjab’s fastest-growing city.
By 2022, Mohali had undoubtedly expanded — but it still largely functioned as a satellite city orbiting around Chandigarh.
The years after 2022, however, have visibly altered that perception.
Today, Mohali increasingly feels like a city building its own economic, commercial and urban ecosystem — one no longer dependent entirely on Chandigarh’s pull.
The transformation is visible across nearly every major corridor of the city.
Airport Road has rapidly evolved into Mohali’s defining urban spine, connecting:
- Aerocity,
- IT City,
- commercial SCO belts,
- residential sectors,
- and the international airport corridor through a continuously expanding infrastructure network.
The scale of urban development surrounding this corridor has accelerated sharply over the last four years.
According to GMADA, the Aerotropolis project near the international airport spans nearly 5,500 acres. In 2025 alone, infrastructure projects worth approximately ₹509 crore were initiated across the region covering:
- roads,
- drainage systems,
- underground utilities,
- sewerage infrastructure,
- water supply,
- and integrated urban development.
This level of investment is transforming southern Mohali into one of North India’s largest emerging urban expansion zones.
At the same time, commercial activity across Mohali has expanded far beyond its traditional markets.
Earlier, much of the city’s economic movement remained concentrated around Phase 7, Phase 3B2 and Chandigarh-facing sectors. Today, newer commercial belts across:
- Airport Road,
- Aerocity,
- Sector 79–80,
- IT City,
- and PR-road corridors
have emerged as rapidly growing hubs for:
- cafés,
- restaurants,
- retail showrooms,
- co-working spaces,
- fitness centres,
- and lifestyle businesses.
The city’s evening economy itself feels noticeably different than it did a few years ago.
Commercial corridors that once appeared relatively quiet after sunset now remain active well into the night, reflecting stronger local business movement and changing urban lifestyles within Mohali itself.
Construction activity has also become far more geographically spread.
Instead of growth remaining concentrated around older sectors, large-scale development is now visible simultaneously across:
- Aerocity,
- IT City,
- Sector 113 onwards,
- PR corridors,
- Airport Road belt,
- and expanding southern sectors of Greater Mohali.
This shift has gradually changed how residents and outsiders perceive the city.
Earlier, Mohali was often viewed primarily as a residential alternative to Chandigarh.
Today, it increasingly appears as Punjab’s most ambitious modern urban growth centre.
The difference after 2022 is not merely physical expansion.
It is the emergence of confidence, scale and independent urban movement.
Mohali is no longer growing only around Chandigarh.
It is increasingly growing around itself.
From modern infrastructure and expanding commercial corridors to airport-led development and rising economic activity, Mohali’s transformation after 2022 is steadily reshaping the city from a neighbouring satellite town into an urban powerhouse in its own right.