Chandigarh not a World Heritage City, but first 30 sectors protected

Tewari asked the Minister of Culture, “Whether the Union Territory of Chandigarh is designated as a heritage city, and what are the specific or established criteria for designating a city as a heritage city by the Government of India, UNESCO, or any other international organisation?”

In response, Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “The Union Territory of Chandigarh City has not been designated as a World Heritage City.” He added, “However, the Chandigarh Capitol Complex was inscribed as a Transnational World Heritage Property in 2016 under the title ‘The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement.’ This Transnational World Heritage Property includes seven countries: Argentina, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Japan, and India.”

Shekhawat further clarified, “According to the UNESCO Operational Guidelines, 2024, any World Heritage property, including a World Heritage City, must fulfill one or more outlined criteria.”

India has two designated heritage cities: Ahmedabad in Gujarat and Jaipur in Rajasthan.

In Chandigarh, every major project, from subway construction to the installation of lights at historical sites, requires approval from the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee.

There have also been past representations by some individuals regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling on banning apartmentalisation in the first 30 sectors of the city.

Deepika Gandhi, former director of the Le Corbusier Centre, said, “Yes, of course. The whole city has never been nominated or even claimed to be a World Heritage site. But the administration itself has declared the first 30 sectors as a Heritage Grade 1 zone. This has the approval of the Government of India.”

Similarly, ML Sarin said, “The Supreme Court judgment clearly states that the first 30 sectors have to be protected because they are Corbusian sectors. The judgment should be read properly.”