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Chandigarh; the word itself is a moment, experience, idea, and most importantly the past with the idealistic Indian city future. The Chandigarh was one of the first planned cities in India after Independence. Chandigarh arose an Indian identity after independence and we marked on the globe with one of the most discussed planned cities by Architect Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier aimed to reflect the modernist principles. The Chandigarh city planning focused on the Grid Iron plan, with the roads intersecting at right angles, and a clean and organized street layout that is easy to navigate. Secondly, Chandigarh is divided into sectors of 800 m x 1200 m which are planned with a clear structure and self-sufficient with basic facilities and amenities. In Chandigarh city planning, the hierarchical road network is one of the key features; catering fast roads to pedestrian and cycle lanes.
The Chandigarh Plan incorporated extensive green parks, as Le Corbusier emphasized the importance of open spaces. The known gardens and open spaces of the city are Rock Garden, Rose Garden, and Sukhna Lake; which eventually enhanced the public recreational opportunities and aesthetics of the city. Furthermore, the city is zoned based on various uses emphasizing the characteristics of every function and use. Each sector had its own green open space or recreational space which essentially focused on a healthy living environment.
Chandigarh is an exquisite example?of well-executed urban planning that balances practicality and aesthetic appeal. Global city planning is still influenced by its design concepts. Le Corbusier’s visionary approach is evident in how the city is laid out with an underground drainage system, wide roads, and organized public transportation with modern utilities and infrastructure in the 20th Century. The Chandigarh city planning can prominently follow a specific architectural style of Le Corbusier’s modernist idea, characterized by simple, functional design with raw concrete as a striking element. The city is responsive to anthropology ensuring human comfort, with the segregation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic as a notable aspect.
Positives of Chandigarh?s City Planning
One of the most prominent positives of Chandigarh city planning is the structured and organized layout incorporating green and open spaces aiming at a healthy and sustainable living environment. The structured layout made it easier to navigate with traffic management addressed by the hierarchical road network. The land zoning of the planned city is another key positive aspect as the effective zoning prevented overcrowding ensuring the balance in urban development. The mix of land development encouraged vibrant and dynamic communities. As the city is planned with modern infrastructure, the urban development tried to accommodate future growth with sustainability at its core.
Chandigarh emphasized sustainable city development through the incorporation of green spaces addressing the issue of urban heat. Moreover, Le Corbusier?s innovative design principles prioritizing the needs and comfort of the occupants promoted the quality of life and influenced urban planning.
Negatives of Chandigarh?s City Planning
As the strength of the Chandigarh City Planning is the grid structure, it is also the negative. The rigidity of the design here leads to a sense of monotony and lack of variation in the urban landscape in the city. With the rigid layout, the predefined boundaries limit the city’s expansion response to population growth. Additionally, the existing infrastructure may become overburdening leading to traffic congestion and issues with public services.
The rigid sector design encouraged people to opt for automobile use, leading to traffic congestion; and environmental pollution. Furthermore, the city planning doesn?t suffice the need for affordable housing, leading to the informal settlements on the periphery. However, the rigidity of the planning has made it difficult to adapt with time as the layout is quite resistant to change by not meeting contemporary needs and incorporating new infrastructure and design.
Despite efforts to separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic, certain locations still do not have enough walkways or crossings for pedestrians. Even if there are designated bike lanes, biking as a mode of transportation is discouraged because there might not be adequate integration or safety measures.
Underuse of some planned areas, especially business districts, can lead to inefficient use of the available land. Certain infrastructure and public amenities might not be fully utilized because of poor planning or insufficient demand. Although, Chandigarh city planning is one of the recognized planned cities globally.