The second phase of a major conservation project at Panjab University's iconic Gandhi Bhawan in Chandigarh was abruptly stopped on Saturday. The halt came just one day after the work began, following serious concerns about the execution method and the absence of technical experts at the site.
Work Stopped Over Protocol Violations
Phase 2 of the restoration commenced on Friday after a tender worth approximately Rs 20 lakh was awarded for specific exterior conservation works. However, the project immediately ran into trouble. Observers noted that work was being carried out on the building's topmost external wall without the presence of engineers or conservation professionals from the appointed consultancy firm.
A worker was seen manually intervening on exposed surfaces behind removed tiles. This action raised immediate red flags about compliance with the detailed Conservation Management Plan (CMP) prepared for the structure. At the time, only one other worker was present at the site, highlighting the lack of supervision.
Confirming the stoppage, PU Executive Engineer (XEN) Vinay Laliya stated, "The contractor has been asked to stop work. Restoration will resume only after proper methodology is followed and engineers and professionals from the consultancy firm are present on site."
A Modernist Landmark of Global Significance
Gandhi Bhawan is not just any building. Designed in the early 1960s by architect B.P. Mathur in collaboration with Pierre Jeanneret, it is a Grade I heritage structure and one of Chandigarh's most recognizable modernist landmarks. The lotus-shaped building, surrounded by a reflecting pool at the academic core of Panjab University, was conceived as a centre dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi's life and ideas. Its construction originally took two years.
The current restoration is guided by a CMP developed with support from the Getty Foundation's Keeping It Modern initiative. This global program promotes research-driven conservation of significant 20th-century architecture worldwide. Gandhi Bhawan received a Getty grant in 2015 for CMP preparation, followed by an implementation grant of around Rs 1.4 crore for priority works.
Phased Restoration and the Importance of Process
Phase 1 of the project, which focused on restoring the crucial reflecting pool, has already been completed. University officials said this phase successfully addressed long-standing issues related to seepage and deterioration of the water body. The pool is integral to both the building's architectural concept and the microclimate around it.
Phase 2 involves critical exterior conservation, including surface treatment and other interventions identified as priorities in the CMP. This document, which runs into several hundred pages, lays down exhaustive guidelines on:
- Materials to be used
- Sequencing of work
- Documentation requirements
- The necessity of continuous professional supervision during any intervention
In essence, it mandates detailed documentation and unbroken expert oversight. The brief halt has sharply renewed attention on the paramount importance of strict process and vigilant oversight in heritage conservation. This is especially critical for a structure possessing the immense architectural and symbolic value of Gandhi Bhawan.
