Chandigarh to list its heritage buildings

Chandigarh, Nov 6 : Though this city is less than 60 years old, it is going to list its heritage buildings so that they can be preserved and maintained, officials said here Thursday.

Various important buildings like the Capitol Complex, Government Museum and Art Gallery, College of Architecture, College of Art, Government Press - which are still being used as per their original use and are living monuments - would get due recognition after the listing.

Chandigarh's finance and planning secretary Sanjay Kumar said: "An agenda will be prepared in a month and would be discussed with the members of the Archaeological Survey of India and Ministry of Cultural Affairs for their recommendations."

The city's heritage list would help the administration to focus and concentrate on the identified buildings and take necessary steps for their restoration, he added.

Most of these buildings were designed by Chandigarh's planner Le Corbusier and built during his time between 1950 and 1965.

Chandigarh was created in the early 1950s as a symbol of a new, independent, resurgent India after the country attained independence from British rule Aug 15, 1947.

The city, originally planned for 500,000 residents, now has a population of over 11 lakh (1.1 million). The centrally-administered union territory is also the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana states.

--IANS