The Chandigarh Urban Planning Department has expressed reservations regarding the proposed land swap between the Union Territory Administration and the Haryana Government, citing a lack of policy provisions in the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031 for such exchanges.
The issue revolves around a proposal where 10 acres of prime land in Chandigarh, intended for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha building, would be swapped for a 12-acre site in Haryana. The department’s assessment revealed significant discrepancies between the two sites, highlighting differences in accessibility, planning feasibility, and location value.
The Haryana site, intersected by a natural drain and lacking proper access roads, is unsuitable for development, according to the department. In contrast, the Chandigarh site is located on a 200-ft road connected to Madhya Marg, making it a prime location.
Architects and urban planners have also opposed the move. Architect Pallav Mukherjee termed the construction of a new Vidhan Sabha building a waste of public funds, noting that legislative sessions occur infrequently. Senior architect Surinder Bagga warned that such decisions could tarnish Chandigarh’s international reputation as a model city planned by Le Corbusier. He emphasized that constructing new structures like the Assembly would disrupt the city’s iconic design and lead to further demands for separate High Court and Secretariat buildings.
Public sentiment also calls for greater involvement of city residents in the decision-making process. RK Garg, president of the Second Innings Association, urged the administration to seek public opinion and convene an urgent meeting of the UT Advisory Council to address concerns over the land swap.
