Setting its sight on attaining the coveted UNESCO heritage status for Capital Complex in Chandigarh, the UT Administration has set the ball rolling for the preparation of a fresh dossier to be sent  to UNESCO showcasing the architectural masterpieces in Capitol Complex. 

A team of Chandigarh College of Architecture has been entrusted with the task to prepare a fresh dossier for Chandigarh elaborating about the unique architectural landmarks in Capitol Complex, Sector 1. 

The UT Urban Planning Department would assist the team of professors of College of Architecture in preparing the dossier to pursue UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) heritage status. The College experts will also work in coordination with the Fondation le Corbusier in Paris. 

Besides, the UT Administration has decided to constitute a monitoring Committee to supervise the progress of preparation of the dossier. The monitoring Committee is likely to be comprised of members from the Union Ministry of Culture, le Corbusier Foundation and UT Administration to ensure the coordination between the authorities concerned in preparing the dossier. 

Chandigarh would be the party of transnational nomination of French architect le Corbusier’s works for UNESCO heritage status. le Corbusier’s works in Chandigarh along with his other works in countries namely France, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Argentina would be included in the proposed trans-border serial nomination for UNESCO heritage status for the year 2015. 

The Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs has already given its nod to the UT Administration in this regard. 

The deadline to send the transnational nomination for UNESCO heritage status for 2015 ends in September this year. Considering the deadline, the UT Administration is making efforts to finalise its dossier by the month of July.

When contacted, UT chief architect Sumit Kumar said, “The process for preparation of a fresh dossier has been started. A team of College of Architecture is working on it with the experts of UT Urban Planning Department.”

She said, “The buildings in Capitol Complex designed by the le Corbusier are a part of transnational nominations.”

“Fondation le Corbusier in Paris will also assist the UT Administration to prepare city’s dossier. In this regard, the experts preparing the dossier also went to attend a meeting at Fondation le Corbusier on February 24,” she added.

The UT Administration has been pushing the city’s case for UNESCO heritage status since 2006. In 2006-07, Chandigarh featured on a tentative list drawn up by UNESCO.

The Capitol Complex besides being the administrative hub of two States, namely Punjab and Haryana, includes eyecatching and esthetic open-hand monument, High Court museum, tower of shadows and several other significant buildings.

Notably, the Capitol Complex has been placed under Grade I of heritage status by Administration in an attempt to preserve these heritage structures.

Earlier in the year 2008, the UT Tourism Department had taken the initiative to seek UNESCO status of world modern heritage city for the City Beautiful.

The UNESCO World Heritage status is likely to bring acknowledgement, funds, status, conservation effort and tourists to Chandigarh.