Once Chandigarh’s biggest slum colony, now set to be a city forest with elevated trails, bird-watching spaces

According to the administration, the city forest will be designed to bring residents closer to nature without turning the restored forest into a conventional urban park.

Once the illegal structures were removed, the Forest Department was left with a severely disturbed landscape. Construction and demolition (C&D) waste remained scattered across the site, the soil had become compacted, natural drainage had been affected, and parts of the area faced waterlogging. Vegetation had also been lost during years of encroachment and construction activity.

While the administration was looking at utilising the land, they were told that it was forest land and nothing much could be done. This is how the idea of a city forest was conceptualised. The department then undertook ecological restoration of the site, rather than merely clearing it for another development project.

“The eviction, however, left behind a degraded landscape, with construction and demolition waste, compacted soil, disturbed drainage, loss of vegetation and waterlogging. The Forest Department subsequently undertook restoration work, including fencing, removal of C&D waste, restoration of the land profile, soil and moisture conservation and plantation,” a senior official said.

The plantation was followed by regular maintenance and post-plantation care. According to the project document, the site has recorded an estimated 98 per cent survival rate of the plantation.

Two water bodies have also been created as part of the restoration effort. Besides serving as rainwater harvesting and moisture-retention structures, these are expected to add to the ecological diversity of the site and provide suitable habitat for birds and wildlife, according to the official.

A forest, not a concrete park

The next phase is aimed at allowing people to experience the restored landscape while keeping construction and human intervention to a minimum.

Instead of covering the site with conventional pathways and permanent structures, the plan seeks to work around the existing landscape, using environmentally compatible materials and facilities that have a limited footprint, the official added.

One of the major attractions will be an elevated nature trail. The trail will allow visitors to move through the forest canopy and vegetation while reducing the need for extensive ground-level pathways and limiting disturbance to the habitat below.

The elevated trail is also expected to give visitors a different perspective of the forest — allowing them to experience the landscape without extensively altering it.

For forest protection and surveillance, fire watchtowers have been proposed at the site. Besides their operational role in monitoring the forest, these structures are expected to become prominent features of the landscape.

An observation deck is also planned, providing visitors with a vantage point from which they can look across the restored forest and its surrounding natural features.

A space for birds and nature learning

The UT official said that the project also seeks to turn the forest into an environmental learning space.

A dedicated bird-watching platform is proposed for visitors interested in observing the area’s avifauna. With the restoration of vegetation and creation of water bodies, the site is expected to offer an environment conducive to bird activity.

A nature maze is another proposed feature, intended to combine recreation with experiential learning, particularly for children and families.

For those looking beyond recreation, the plan includes a Nature Interpretation Centre, where visitors can learn about the forest ecosystem, local biodiversity, restoration efforts and the importance of urban forests.

An open-air theatre is also proposed, potentially providing space for environmental awareness programmes, educational activities and cultural events in an outdoor setting.

Bamboo structures and quieter corners

The visitor facilities have also been planned to retain the natural character of the forest.

A bamboo cafeteria, gazebos, meditation huts, rain shelters and bamboo canopies are proposed rather than large conventional buildings. The use of such structures is intended to provide basic visitor facilities while keeping the intervention compatible with the forest setting.

The meditation huts and quieter spaces could offer visitors areas away from the more active portions of the site, while rain shelters and gazebos would provide places to rest during walks.

A reception and ticketing facility, public amenities and toilets are also proposed to manage visitor entry and movement in an organised manner.

From an encroached patch to an urban nature hub

The project effectively represents a shift in the identity of the site — from an encroached and degraded patch of forest land to a planned urban nature destination.

Rather than treating the 35 acres simply as recreational land, the project envisages the restored forest as a demonstration of how degraded urban landscapes can be rehabilitated and subsequently opened to people without losing their ecological character.

The proposed facilities — elevated trails, watchtowers, water bodies, bird-watching areas, interpretation centre and nature-learning spaces — are therefore planned around the forest rather than the other way around.