Chandigarh
Architects on Monday said the decisions pertaining to Chandigarh are either taken by politicians or bureaucrats without consulting professionals or citizens. Pointing out the ill-conceived Sec 29/31 flyover as an example, they said such practice is very dangerous for the city and should be avoided in the future.
A meeting of Chandigarh, Punja and Haryana architects was organized here on Monday by Indian Institute of Architects, Punjab Chapter. Nearly 50 architects participated in the debate, “What Ails Tricity”.
Architect Surinder Bahga said, “The flyover was ill-conceived and will ruin the character of the city, increase noise level at Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, shift traffic congestion from one roundabout to another, disturb underground services and cut grown-up trees. Such piecemeal solutions will not work. There is an urgent need to find a holistic solution to the city’s traffic issues.”
Prof Deepika Gandhi, director, Le Corbusier Centre talked about the need to spread information about Chandigarh, sensitize citizens and decision-makers about the legacy of the city and take a more proactive measure to engage the younger generation in the various aspects of the city in particular and the issues of urbanization in general.
S S Sekhon, former chief architect, Punjab, said the pre-1966 status of Chandigarh should be restored.
Architects also strongly condemned the statement of Chandigarh chief engineer that Le Corbusier made a blunder by using concrete and called buildings nude. Architects said all historical buildings are nude, either in brick, stone or concrete.
They also stated that the unwanted underpass between Rose Garden and Sector 17 is built without considering its merits and demerits. Sector 17 is being revamped to spoil the character of the commercial centre. Various administration-owned buildings are painted against its own bye-laws. Ugly looking railings are installed on Madhya Marg and few other roads, which go against the concept of Le Corbusier, without any study or statistics, architects added.
Architects appreciated the decision of the Chandigarh administration to construct over-bridge of Sector 17 and Chandigarh municipal corporation’s role in the construction of underground parking in Sector 17.
Architects advised to develop two more leisure valleys in Chandigarh along the banks of Sukhna Choe and Patiala Ki Rao rivulets. In prevailing circumstances, the entire belt of Capitol Complex from Rajendra Park to Sukhna Lake needs to be landscaped under the guidance of reputed landscape architect.
