Latest news with #MasterPlan-2031
Hindustan Times
14-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Allotting land for new high court complex at IT Park would breach wildlife, land-use norms: Chandigarh administration
The Chandigarh administration has told the Punjab and Haryana high court that the allotment of land in IT Park for construction of a new high court complex would be against the land-use policy and the wildlife norms. The administration, besides the affidavit, also produced records with regard to the establishment of IT Park and various notifications by the Centre, restricting construction of high-rises in the area. (HT File) In an affidavit, UT superintending engineer (SE) Jigna K Sanghdia has told the court that the change-of-land use is not applicable in Chandigarh as per the provisions of Master Plan-2031, and therefore, utilisation of IT Park area for any other purpose will not be a 'compatible land use.' In addition to this, the SE has told the court that there are restrictions imposed by the wildlife board against construction of high-rise buildings in IT Park so as to avoid disturbing the path of migratory birds and the deleterious effect on the sanctuary and birds. The administration, besides the affidavit, also produced records with regard to the establishment of IT Park and various notifications by the Centre, restricting construction of high-rises in the area. The high court had on August 1 sought from UT, the records, which go against the construction of a new high court complex in the area. The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by the high court employees association secretary Vinod Dhatterwal, seeking implementation of the holistic development plan, which envisages setting up of multi-storey buildings to cater to the requirement of additional space. Notably, the Bar Association also filed an affidavit stating that it has eminently come out that the IT park site is neither available nor suitable for the construction of the new building. The UT administration is stressing on setting up the new complex in Sarangpur, where, it says, over 40 acres could be allotted for construction of the new high court complex. However, the high court had expressed its apprehension about the traffic congestion on the road leading to Sarangpur from Chandigarh as PGIMER chowk remains clogged for most parts of the day. The UT further said that in the stakeholders meeting, chaired by additional solicitor general Satya pal Jain on August 7, UT had apprised that the requisite solutions for reducing congestion at PGIMER chowk are being worked upon. 'Expansion plan of current complex halted by UNESCO not heritage panel' UT has also told the court that in 2019, the Chandigarh Heritage Committee had cleared the proposal of expansion of the high court complex and approved the holistic development plan. However, the same was blocked by the UNESCO committee in view of the Capitol complex, which comprises the high court building, declared as World Heritage site in 2016. If the expansion is to be done at the current site, a fresh proposal with reduced space allotted for various purposes can be submitted to UNESCO, it has told the court. No violation of norms in allotment of site to hotel Lalit The Chandigarh administration has also told the court that there were no violations in the allotment of site to hotel Lalit in IT Park, a multi-storey building. The IT Park was set up after 2002 in various phases and notified in 2006 to promote the growth of information service in Chandigarh. As per the layout of the IT Park, the commercial area and site where the hotel has come up was already earmarked for the same. It was allotted as the need was felt to set up a five-star hotel at the commercial site as there was no availability of top-class hotels in Chandigarh. With the affidavit, UT had also produced various permissions given for the project at the time of clearance for the project.
Hindustan Times
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: City Beautiful's 1st green corridor project scrapped after heritage panel's objection
Two years after initiating work on the much-touted non-motorised transport (NMT) green corridor and felling around 200 trees for its construction, the UT administration has scrapped the project following the Heritage Committee's disagreement. The project had also seen strong objections from the Sector 10 residents' welfare association. In November last year, UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria gave the greenlight to resume work after the engineering department assured that no trees would be cut. (HT File) Envisaged under the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031, the 8-km corridor, equipped with lighting, was planned to connect the Capitol Complex in Sector 1 to Sector 56, running along the N-Choe from the northern to the southern parts of the city. It was pitched as a dedicated route for non-motorised travel such as cycling and walking, to reduce carbon emissions and enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety. A senior official of the urban planning department said, 'After the engineering department asked us to re-examine the project, we referred it to the heritage committee, but they did not give their approval. Their view was that when the Master Plan was prepared, there were not many cycle tracks in the city, but now major roads already have them, making this corridor unnecessary.' The official further said, 'The committee, after detailed discussions and deliberations, concluded that the concerns raised by residents against the proposal were valid. It observed that introducing cycle tracks within green belts or parks would create a contradictory movement system for pedestrians, as cyclists would be free to use any of the tracks in these areas.' 'Such an arrangement, the committee noted, would undermine the original intent of green spaces, which were designed as serene environments meant for the care of the mind, body, and soul,' official added. UT chief engineer CB Ojha confirmed the chain of events, saying, 'Following objections from Sector 10 residents, we referred the project back to the urban planning department for review. We have not yet received their reply.' The project's journey has been turbulent. Work began in June 2023 but was suspended in September by then UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit after a complaint to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) flagged the 'illegal' felling of trees. The estimated cost of the corridor was ₹5 crore. In November last year, UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria gave the greenlight to resume work after the engineering department assured that no trees would be cut. Work restarted in December, only to face renewed opposition from the residents' body, prompting yet another review. The project was the first of 11 NMT corridors proposed across Chandigarh under the Master Plan-2031. Former UT adviser Dharam Pal had presided over the ground-breaking ceremony, describing it as a 'pioneering step towards sustainable mobility.'
