The Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) has directed the UT Administration, Punjab Government and Haryana Government to convene joint meetings to discuss and decide on crucial issue of highrise developments proposed in north of Capital Complex here.
The MoUD had convened a joint meeting of UT Administration, Punjab Government and Haryana Government on the issue of regional planning on Friday.During the meeting, the UT Administration has raised concerns over the preservation and maintenance of Capitol Complex, unregulated development in periphery and has demanded construction of ring roads.
From UT Administration, Adviser to UT Administrator and UT Chief Architect had attended the meeting at New Delhi.Sumit Kaur, UT chief architect, while talking to The Pioneer said, “A meeting of Committee on Inter State Regional Planning was convened by Secretary MoUD. During the meeting, the UT Administration has submitted its concerns related to the development of the region.”
“The UT Administration has raised issue of preservation and maintenance of heritage structures in Capitol Complex, need of coordination with the neighboring states with regard to high rise developments proposed in north of Capital Complex,” she said.The UT Administration also raised issue regarding construction of more alternatives routes to link Panchkula and Mohali with Chandigarh, problem of traffic congestion at the entry points of the city and a need to chalk out a plan for the same, development of national highways and ring roads connecting the satellite townships among others.
During the meeting, Haryana and Punjab Governments apprized the MoUD Secretary about their development plans in north of Capital Complex.
Considering UT Administration’s concerns over high rise developments proposed in north of Capital Complex, the MoUD has asked all the threestakeholders including UT, Punjab and Haryana governments to convene joint meetings to sort out the issue.
The Ministry has also directed the three Governments to prepare coordinated plans for the development of region.Notably, an inter-state regional plan is proposed to be prepared for the development of tricity with particular emphasis on the development of the periphery of Chandigarh.In the past, the haphazard growth in the periphery has been a matter of concern in the city. Another apprehension is the construction of requisite infrastructure to lessen the burden on Chandigarh.
The Committee on Inter State Regional Planning comprised of Punjab Chief Secretary, Haryana Chief Secretary and Adviser to the UT Administrator as members, is entrusted with the task to synergize the planned development in the entire region by harmonizing plans prepared by three stakeholders including Haryana Government, Punjab Government and UT Administration for the region. Further, it would monitor the progress or programmes which have major bearing to the entire region.
It has been proposed to develop Chandigarh region on the pattern of NCR Delhi and ensure balanced and sustainable development of Chandigarh and the region.