The Chandigarh administration has firmly declared that no development will compromise the city's architectural heritage. As amendments to the Chandigarh Master Plan (CMP-2031) progress, officials emphasize that heritage protection and infrastructure readiness are non-negotiable.
Heritage Sectors Remain Untouched
Senior UT officials stated that the sanctity of heritage sectors, reinforced by the Supreme Court, will be preserved. Phase-I sectors will retain their low-rise, plotted character with no additional height permitted. This adherence to original architectural controls and zoning norms aligns with the vision of the city's founding planners.
Focus on Phase-III Development
The proposed changes, based on recommendations from an expert committee, primarily target Phase-III areas yet to be developed, keeping the core city intact. Officials confirm that the amendments align with Chandigarh's three-phase development model. The town planning wing played a key role in drafting safeguards, embedding strict heritage protection and infrastructure-first conditions.
Infrastructure-First Approach
The committee mandates that no increase in Floor Area Ratio (FAR) will be implemented without simultaneous augmentation of essential services. In the Industrial Area, the proposed FAR enhancement could generate over 15.24 lakh square metres of built-up area in Phase-I and 7.85 lakh square metres in Phase-II, along with thousands of car spaces. This surge will burden existing infrastructure unless upgraded in advance.
The engineering department and municipal corporation must expand sewerage, water supply, electricity networks, effluent treatment, waste management, road capacity, and parking. A time-bound action plan is mandatory, and implementation will remain on hold until upgrades are completed and formally cleared.
The committee has set a tough condition: trunk infrastructure augmentation must be executed before final notification. The recommendation will stay in abeyance until full infrastructure upgrades are done and clearances submitted.
