Chandigarh: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Union territory and capital of Punjab and Haryana states in northern India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

| settlement_type          = [[Union territory]] / [[List of cities in India by population|City]]

|photo3a = Open Hand monument, Chandigarh.jpg

|photo2b = Rock Garden, Chandigarh-statues.jpg

|photo2a = Gandhi Bhavan Chandigarh.jpg

|photo3b = Chandigarh hockey stadium.JPG

|color = #FFFFFF

|border = 1

| image_caption            = Clockwise from top:<br />[[Palace of Assembly (Chandigarh)|Palace of Assembly]], [[Rock Garden of Chandigarh]], [[Sector 42 Stadium]], [[Chandigarh IT Park]], [[Open Hand Monument]] and [[Gandhi Bhawan, Chandigarh|Gandhi Bhawan]] at [[Panjab University]]

| nickname                = ''The City of Beauty''{{efn|see {{section link||Etymology}}}}

| government_type          = [[Union territory]] <br> [[Municipal Corporation]]

| leader_title1            = [[List of Administrators of Chandigarh|Administrator]]

| leader_name1            = [[Banwarilal Purohit]]

| leader_title2            = [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of parliament]]

| leader_title3            = Adviser to Administrator

| leader_name3 Manoj Parida, IAS = <ref name="Mayor">{{cite news |title=On first day in office, Chandigarh's new mayor greeted with bouquets & brickbats |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/ravi-kant-sharma-new-mayor-first-day-7142800/ |access-date=12 January 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=12 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

| leader_title4            = Mayor

| leader_name4            = Sarabjit Kaur, [[BJP]]

| population_demonym      = Chandigarhian

| blank1_name_sec1        = Literacy rate

| blank_info_sec2          = {{nowrap|{{increase}} 0.775<ref name="snhdi-gdl">{{cite web |title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database |url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |website=Global Data Lab |publisher=Institute for Management Research, Radboud University |access-date=25 September 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |archive-date=23 September 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> ({{color|green|High}})}} · [[List of Indian states and territories by Human Development Index|2nd]]

'''Chandigarh''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|tʃ|ʌ|n|d|ɪ|ˈ|ɡ|ɑr}}; {{IPA-all|tʃə̃ɳˈɖiːɡəɽʱ|local|}}) is a city, [[Districts of India|district]] and [[union territory]] in [[India]] that serves as the joint capital of the two neighbouring states of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Haryana]]. Chandigarh is bordered by the state of Punjab to the north, the west and the south, and by the state of Haryana to the east. It is considered to be a part of the [[Chandigarh Capital Region]] or Greater Chandigarh, which includes Chandigarh, and the city of [[Panchkula]] (in Haryana) and cities of [[Kharar, SAS Nagar|Kharar]], [[New Chandigarh]], [[Mohali]] and [[Zirakpur]] (in Punjab). It is located 260&nbsp;km (162 miles) north of [[New Delhi]] and 229&nbsp;km (143 miles) southeast of [[Amritsar]].

Chandigarh is one of the early [[planned cities]] in post-independence India and is internationally known for its architecture and urban design.<ref name="ci2">{{cite web|url=http://business.gov.in/investment_incentives/chandigarh.php|title=Business Portal of India : Investment Opportunities and Incentives : State Level Investment : Chandigarh|work=business.gov.in|access-date=12 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017092219/http://business.gov.in/investment_incentives/chandigarh.php|archive-date=17 October 2013}}</ref> The master plan of the city was prepared by Swiss-French architect [[Le Corbusier]], which transformed from earlier plans created by the Polish architect [[Maciej Nowicki (architect)|Maciej Nowicki]] and the American planner [[Albert Mayer (planner)|Albert Mayer]]. Most of the government buildings and housing in the city were designed by the Chandigarh Capital Project Team headed by Le Corbusier, [[Jane Drew]] and [[Maxwell Fry]]. In 2015, an article published by [[BBC]] named Chandigarh as one of the few master-planned cities in the world to have succeeded in terms of combining monumental architecture, cultural growth, and modernisation.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Is this the perfect city?|url = http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20151211-is-this-the-perfect-city|website = www.bbc.com|access-date = 22 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151216113741/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/201511-is-this-the-perfect-city|archive-date = 16 December 2015|url-status = live|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

Chandigarh's [[Chandigarh Capitol Complex|Capitol Complex]] was in July 2016 declared by [[UNESCO]] as World Heritage at the 40th session of World Heritage Conference held in [[Istanbul]]. UNESCO inscription was under "The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier an outstanding contribution to the Modern Movement". The Capitol Complex buildings include the [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]], Punjab and Haryana [[Secretariat (administrative office)|Secretariat]] and Punjab and Haryana Assembly along with monuments Open hand, Martyrs Memorial, Geometric Hill and Tower of Shadow and the Rock Garden.

 

The city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the country. The union territory has one of the highest [[Human Development Index]].<ref>[http://megplanning.gov.in/MHDR/Human_De.pdf Meghalaya Human Development Report 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821171737/http://megplanning.gov.in/MHDR/Human_De.pdf |date=21 August 2011 }} (p. 23)</ref> In 2015, a survey by [[LG Electronics]] ranked it as the happiest city in India over the happiness index.<ref>{{Cite news|url =http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/chandigarh-happiest-city-claims-lg-survey-115061200038_1.html|title =Chandigarh 'happiest' city, claims LG survey|date =12 June 2015|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20151222173822/http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/chandigarh-happiest-city-claims-lg-survey-115061200038_1.html|archive-date =22 December 2015|url-status =live|df =dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url =http://chandigarhmetro.com/chandigarh-happiest-city-of-india-lg-survey/|title =Chandigarh is the Happiest City of India – LG Survey|last =Ajay Deep|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20151218180505/http://chandigarhmetro.com/chandigarh-happiest-city-of-india-lg-survey/|archive-date =18 December 2015|url-status =live|df =dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chandigarh happiest city in India, Guwahati least: LG Survey |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/chandigarh-happiest-city-in-india-guwahati-least-lg-survey/articleshow/47628946.cms |access-date=17 September 2019 |work=The Economic Times |date=11 June 2015}}</ref> The metropolitan area of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula collectively forms a [[Chandigarh capital region|Tricity]], with a combined population of over 1,611,770.<ref>{{cite news|date=6 January 2014|title=Tricity residents to get Emaar MGF's Central Plaza soon|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/tricity-residents-to-get-emaar-mgf-s-central-plaza-soon/1216018|newspaper=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109105308/http://www.financialexpress.com/news/tricity-residents-to-get-emaar-mgf-s-central-plaza-soon/1216018|archive-date=9 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

The name ''Chandigarh'' is a [[Compound (linguistics)|compound]] of ''Chandi'' and ''Garh''. ''Chandi'' refers to the Hindu goddess [[Chandi]] and ''Garh'' means fortress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cii.in/chandigarh|title=CII|work=cii.in|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406234407/http://www.cii.in/chandigarh|archive-date=6 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The name is derived from [[Chandi Mandir]], an ancient temple devoted to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] Goddess [[Chandi]] ([[Parvati]]) near the city in [[Panchkula]] District.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newkerala.com/states-of-india/chandigarh.php|title=Chandigarh: Info on geography, history, government, districts, business, economy, travel, rivers, education, food, arts, culture, music, dance, festivals|work=newkerala.com|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317182551/http://www.newkerala.com/states-of-india/chandigarh.php|archive-date=17 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

The motif or sobriquet of "The City of Beauty" was derived from the [[City Beautiful movement]] that was a popular philosophy in North American urban planning during the 1890s and 1900s. Architect [[Albert Mayer (planner)|Albert Mayer]], the initial planner of Chandigarh, lamented the American rejection of ''City Beautiful'' concepts and declared "We want to create a beautiful city..."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kalia|first1=Ravi|title=Chandigarh : in search of an identity|date=1987|publisher=Southern Illinois University Press |location=Carbondale |isbn=978-0809313105|page=54 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-s0g47oeb34C&q=city+beautiful}}</ref> The phrase was used on as a logo in official publications in the 1970s and is now how the city describes itself.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Office of the Registrar General, R. K. Goswami|title=Census of India, 1971, Series 25, Chandigarh: Census atlas|date=1970|location=India|pages=20, 22, 33|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gfInAAAAMAAJ&q=City+Beautiful}}</ref><ref name="chandigarh-official">{{cite web |title=Official website of the Chandigarh Administration |url=http://chandigarh.gov.in/ |publisher=Chandigarh Administration |access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Punjab 1909.jpg|thumb|350px|right|A map of the British Punjab province in 1909. During the [[Partition of India]] along the [[Radcliffe Line]], the capital of the Punjab Province, [[Lahore]], fell into [[West Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]. The necessity to have a new capital for [[East Punjab]] in India then, led to the development of Chandigarh.]]

Albert Mayer developed a [[City block#Superblock|superblock]]-based city interspersed with green spaces which with an emphasis on cellular neighbourhoods and traffic segregation. His site-plan took advantage of natural land characteristics; the land's gentle grade promoted proper drainage. Mayer stopped work after his architect-partner [[Matthew Nowicki]] died in a plane crash in 1950. Government officials recruited [[Le Corbusier]] to succeed Mayer and Nowicki, who enlisted many elements of Mayer's original plan without attributing them to him.<ref name="Banerjee">{{cite news |last=Banerjee |first=Tridib |title=U.S. Planning Expeditions to Postcolonial India: From Ideology to Innovation in Technical Assistance |journal=Journal of the American Planning Association |year=2009 |volume=75 |issue=2 |pages=193–208 |doi=10.1080/01944360902790711}}</ref>

Le Corbusier designed many administration buildings, including the High Court, the Palace of Assembly, and the Secretariat Building. Le Corbusier also designed the general layout of the city, dividing it into sectors. Chandigarh hosts the largest of Le Corbusier's many ''Open Hand'' sculptures, standing 26&nbsp;metres high. ''[[Open Hand Monument|The Open Hand (La Main Ouverte)]]'' is a recurring motif in Le Corbusier's architecture, a sign for him of "peace and reconciliation. It is open to give and open to receive." It represents what Le Corbusier called the "Second Machine Age".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=qG-9cwHOcCIC&pg=PA613 ''Frommer's India''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105043629/https://books.google.com/books?id=qG-9cwHOcCIC&pg=PA613 |date=5 January 2016 }} (2010) Pippa de Bruyn, John Wiley & Sons, p613 {{ISBN|9780470556108}}</ref> Two of the six monuments planned in the Capitol Complex which has the High Court, the Assembly, and the Secretariat, remain incomplete. These include Geometric Hill and Martyrs Memorial; drawings were made, and they were begun in 1956, but they were never completed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/capitol-complex-as-le-corbusier-wanted-it/635844/ |title=Capitol Complex, as Le Corbusier wanted it, remains incomplete |publisher=Indian Express |date=19 June 2010 |access-date=2 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026061415/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/capitol-complex-as-le-corbusier-wanted-it/635844 |archive-date=26 October 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

On 1 November 1966, the newly formed state of [[Haryana]] was carved out of the eastern and southern portion of East Punjab, to create a new state for the majority [[Haryanvi]]-speaking people in that portion, while the western portion of East Punjab retained a mostly [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]-speaking majority and was renamed as [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]. Chandigarh was located on the border of both states and the states moved to incorporate the city into their respective territories. However, the city of Chandigarh was declared a [[union territory]] to serve as capital of both states.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haryana-online.com/History/history_1966-.htm |title=1st November 1966 – Haryana Day |publisher=Haryana Online |access-date=8 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002001513/http://haryana-online.com/History/history_1966-.htm |archive-date=2 October 2013 }}</ref>

 

As of 2016, many historical villages in Chandigarh are still inhabited within the modern blocks of sectors including ''Burail'' and ''Ottawa'', while several non-sectoral villages lie on the outskirts of the city. These villages were a part of the pre-Chandigarh era.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://chandigarh.gov.in/cmp2031/villages.pdf| title= villages.pdf| publisher= chandigarh.gov.in| access-date= 9 September 2015| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151223231037/http://chandigarh.gov.in/cmp2031/villages.pdf| archive-date= 23 December 2015| url-status= live| df= dmy-all}}</ref>

Chandigarh is located near the foothills of the [[Sivalik Hills|Sivalik]] range of the [[Himalaya]]s in northwest India. It covers an area of approximately 114&nbsp;km².<ref name="Government Information"/> It borders the states of Punjab and Haryana. The exact geographic coordinates of Chandigarh are {{Coord|30.74|N|76.79|E|}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/5/Chandigarh.html |title=Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Chandigarh |work=Falling Rain Genomics |access-date=21 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116054605/http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/5/Chandigarh.html |archive-date=16 January 2009 }}</ref> It has an average elevation of 321&nbsp;metres (1053&nbsp;ft).

Chandigarh has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cwa'') characterised by a seasonal rhythm: very hot summers, mild winters, unreliable rainfall and great variation in temperature ({{convert|−1|to|45|°C|°F|1|disp=or}}). The average annual rainfall is {{convert|1110.7|mm|in|2|disp=or}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Know Chandigarh |url=http://chandigarh.nic.in/knowchd_general.htm |website=Official Website of Chandigarh Administration |access-date=2 April 2020 |date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721164933/http://chandigarh.nic.in/knowchd_general.htm |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref> The city also receives occasional winter rains from the [[Western Disturbance]] originating over the [[Mediterranean Sea]].

The western disturbances usually bring rain predominantly from mid-December till the end of April which can be heavier sometimes with strong winds and hails if the weather turns colder (during March–April months) which usually proves disastrous to the crops. Cold winds usually tend to come from Himalayas that lie to the north, which receive snowfall during wintertime.

* '''Spring''': In the spring season (from February-end to early-April), temperatures vary between (max) {{convert|13|to|20|°C|°F|1|disp=or}} and (min) {{convert|5|to|12|°C|°F|1|disp=or}}.

* '''Monsoon''': During the monsoon (from early-July to mid-September), Chandigarh receives moderate to heavy rainfall and sometimes heavy to very heavy rainfall (generally during the month of August or September). Usually, the rain-bearing monsoon winds blow from south-west/south-east. Mostly, the city receives heavy rain from the south (which is mainly a persistent rain) but it generally receives most of its rain during monsoon either from northwest or northeast. The maximum amount of rain received by the city of Chandigarh during the monsoon season is {{convert|195.5|mm|in|2|disp=or}} in a single day.

Most of Chandigarh is covered by dense [[banyan]], and [[eucalyptus]] plantations. [[Ashoka tree|Ashoka]], [[Cassia Fistula|cassia]], [[mulberry]] and other trees flourish in the forested ecosystem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chandigarhforestflora.in:80/home/species|title=Chandigarh Forest Flora – Comprehensive Database|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331194535/http://chandigarhforestflora.in/home/species|archive-date=31 March 2018|url-status=live|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref> The city has forests surrounding that sustain many animal and plant species.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chandigarh.gov.in/green_suk_wild4.htm|title=Official Website of Chandigarh Administration|work=chandigarh.gov.in|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021164858/http://chandigarh.gov.in/green_suk_wild4.htm|archive-date=21 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Deer]], [[Sambar (deer)|sambars]], [[barking deer]], parrots, [[woodpecker]]s, and [[peacock]]s inhabit the protected forests. [[Sukhna Lake]] hosts a variety of ducks and geese, and attracts migratory birds from parts of Siberia and Japan in the winter season.

Many trees in Chandigarh are given a status of the natural heritage of the city. The Chandigarh government have identified a list of 31 trees as Heritage Trees. Department of forest & wildlife Chandigarh administration is the nodal department for this purpose which has published a detailed booklet about it. The trees which are 100 years or more old have been given ''heritage status''.

[[File:Sukhna Lake Chandigarh.JPG|thumb|right|[[Sailing]] at Sukhna Lake]]

There has been a substantial decline in the population growth rate in Chandigarh, with just 17.10% growth between 2001 and 2011. Since, 1951–1961 the rate has decreased from 394.13% to 17.10%. This is probably because of rapid urbanisation and development in neighbouring cities.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://chandigarh.gov.in/cmp2031/demography.pdf| title= Chandigarh demographics| work= chandigarh.gov.in| access-date= 21 March 2015| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150513223903/http://chandigarh.gov.in/cmp2031/demography.pdf| archive-date= 13 May 2015| url-status= live| df= dmy-all}}</ref> The urban population constitutes as high as 97.25% of the total and the rural population makes up 2.75% as there are only a few villages within Chandigarh on its Western and South-Eastern border and the majority of people live in the heart of Chandigarh.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Many institutions serve minorities in the city. One such being the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh]], serving the Catholics, which even has a [[co-cathedral]] in the city, Christ the King Co-Cathedral, although it never was a separate bishopric. Most of the convent schools of Chandigarh are governed by this institution.

[[Kirron Kher]] ([[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]) is the [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Members of Parliament]] elected in [[2019 Indian general election|2019]] from the [[Chandigarh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency]].

The city is governed by a civic administration or local government headed by [[Municipal Commissioner (India)|Municipal Commissioner]] Kamal Kishore Yadav<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 September 2020|title=Ministry of Home Affairs – Order|url=https://www.mha.gov.in/MHA1/uttrans/prompdfs/UT170520181515.pdf|access-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911053243/https://www.mha.gov.in/MHA1/uttrans/prompdfs/UT170520181515.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=16 May 2016|title=K K Yadav set to be new MC commissioner|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/k-k-yadav-set-to-be-new-mc-commissioner/articleshow/64187654.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911053316/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/k-k-yadav-set-to-be-new-mc-commissioner/articleshow/64187654.cms|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2020|access-date=11 September 2020|website=Times of India}}</ref> and [[Mayor]] Ravi Kant Sharma.<ref name="Mayor"/> The city comprises 26 wards represented by 26 elected [[councillor]]s, and also nominates 9 councillors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wards {{!}} The official website of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh,Chandigarh Administration, India|url=http://mcchandigarh.gov.in/?q=wards|access-date=11 September 2020|website=mcchandigarh.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ward Map |url=http://chandigarh.gov.in/pdf/sec-map.pdf |website=chandigarh.gov.in |access-date=29 September 2020}}</ref>

Ravi Kant Sharma is the mayor of the [[Municipal Corporation Chandigarh|Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh]], who assumed office on 8 January 2021.<ref name="Mayor"/>

 

The prime responsibilities of the civic body [[Municipal Corporation Chandigarh]], are to ensure cleanliness and sanitation in the city, illumination of street lights, maintenance of parks, and sewerage disposal.<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 August 2020|title=How Chandigarh's four-pronged strategy is helping the city fight COVID-19 {{!}} Citizen Matters|url=https://citizenmatters.in/chandigarh-interview-k-k-yadav-municipal-commissioner-on-covid-19-battle-17818|access-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817135458/https://citizenmatters.in/chandigarh-interview-k-k-yadav-municipal-commissioner-on-covid-19-battle-17818|archive-date=17 August 2020}}</ref> The city has both brick and pipe sewers laid in four phases.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=11 September 2020|title=Plans afoot to revamp Chandigarh's over 5-decade-old sewerage system – chandigarh – Hindustan Times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/plans-afoot-to-revamp-city-s-over-5-decade-old-sewerage-system/story-fIannhAlRyHlaEgZNawQdI.html|access-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911060233/https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/plans-afoot-to-revamp-city-s-over-5-decade-old-sewerage-system/story-fIannhAlRyHlaEgZNawQdI.html|archive-date=11 September 2020}}</ref> In September 2020, the civic body announced that it would upgrade and renew the 50-year-old sewerage system.<ref name=":2" /> The pilot project for the 24x7 water supply is expected to begin in Chandigarh in May 2021, which was initially to start in September 2020 and end in March 2022. On 8 April 2021, the Chandigarh Smart City Ltd (CSCL) board is yet to take the final decision.<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 April 2021|title=Pilot project for 24x7 water supply in Chandigarh set to begin in May|work=Hindustan Times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/pilot-project-for-24x7-water-supply-in-chandigarh-set-to-begin-in-may-101617910371175.html|access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref>

In 2021, the BJP ruled corporation had increased the water tariff by 200 times. This created a widespread discontent among the residents.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained">{{cite news |title=Explained: 5 reasons why AAP scored big in Chandigarh municipal polls |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-aap-scored-big-in-chandigarh-municipal-polls-7693012/ |access-date=27 December 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=27 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, there was an acute shortage of parking space. As the problem aggravated BJP led corporation increased the parking charges in the city. The increase in the waste collection charges, water tariff and property tax rates during the last five years 2016 to 2021 were unpopular among the public.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

In 2016, Chandigarh was the [[List of cleanest cities in India|second cleanest city of India]]. In 2016 BJP came to power in the corporation. In the years that followed, garbage from the city was not disposed off properly. Lack of a proper process or mechanism led to the garbage piled up at Dadu Majra garbage dump site.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" /><ref name="Dadu Majra">{{cite news |title=Dadu Majra dump in Chandigarh poses a threat to lives of 50,000 citizens: PIL in Punjab and Haryana HC |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/dadu-majra-dump-in-chandigarh-poses-a-threat-to-lives-citizens-pil-in-punjab-and-haryana-hc-7405672/ |access-date=28 December 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=15 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, Chandigarh fell to the 66 position in the cleanest cities of India. The city had always taken pride in the fact that it was one of the cleanest cities of the country. The fall in cleanliness became an important poll issue. The residents were upset with the downfall in the cleanliness.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

The government's handling of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]] damaged BJP's image as the voters felt that they were not given desired help in getting the hospital beds and medical oxygen from their elected representatives. The sitting Councillors were accused of not found to be approachable when the public needed support. Complaints that No major relief measure was taken by the local government were raised.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

The government is a major employer in Chandigarh with three governments having their base here i.e. Chandigarh Administration, Punjab government and Haryana government. A significant percentage of Chandigarh's population, therefore, consists of people who are either working for one of these governments or have retired from government service mainly armed forces. For this reason, Chandigarh is often called a "Pensioner's Paradise".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/IASOURDREAM/posts/327185860650096|title=IAS OUR DREAM – Chandigarh is often called a "Pensioner's... – Facebook|work=facebook.com|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017085022/https://www.facebook.com/IASOURDREAM/posts/327185860650096|archive-date=17 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Ordnance Cable Factory of the [[Ordnance Factories Board]] has been set up by the [[government of India]]. There are about 15 medium to large industries including two in the public sector. In addition, Chandigarh has over 2,500 units registered under the small-scale sector. The important industries are paper manufacturing, basic metals and alloys, and machinery. Other industries are relating to food products, sanitary ware, auto parts, machine tools, pharmaceuticals, and electrical appliances.

Four major trade promotion organisations have their offices in Chandigarh. These are [[ASSOCHAM|The Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry, ASSOCHAM India]]<ref>The Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry, ASSOCHAM India</ref> in Sector 8, Chandigarh, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, (FICCI) the PhD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the [[Confederation of Indian Industry]] (CII) which has its regional headquarters at Sector 31, Chandigarh.<ref>[http://www.cii.in/Regionpage.aspx?enc=eGTdm5V5nAehji8uvc8r9/JOHwrfX+fmCQ6xKZRBJcwNfHPk1Y9MV9guXPcPQiwD CII (NR) headquarters are at Chandigarh] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210003631/http://www.cii.in/Regionpage.aspx?enc=eGTdm5V5nAehji8uvc8r9%2FJOHwrfX+fmCQ6xKZRBJcwNfHPk1Y9MV9guXPcPQiwD |date=10 February 2015 }}. (Confederation of Indian Industry) The headquarters of CII North Region are at Chandigarh.</ref><ref>[http://www.cii.in/PhotoGalleryDetail.aspx?enc=aF7Ur01v+lR+C3X7MEd6q43EP4jDEa8VyWF7gZWJTEZTnhat3zcTk5sdSthQYEraUBk12qf6dekhGj3QR5WYiGwaexJkILWGl7uUYya3Uhx+t3qymrqpLVQiYHjQTnL0vehBPvqeM8P9mAdCrMscGg== Confederation of Indian Industry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403153417/http://www.cii.in/PhotoGalleryDetail.aspx?enc=aF7Ur01v+lR+C3X7MEd6q43EP4jDEa8VyWF7gZWJTEZTnhat3zcTk5sdSthQYEraUBk12qf6dekhGj3QR5WYiGwaexJkILWGl7uUYya3Uhx+t3qymrqpLVQiYHjQTnL0vehBPvqeM8P9mAdCrMscGg== |date=3 April 2015 }}. The Headquarters of CII (NR) are at Chandigarh.</ref>

The work of the [[Chandigarh Metro]] was earlier slated to start by the year 2019. It was opposed by the [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] from Chandigarh, [[Kirron Kher]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140701/cth1.htm| title= Metro not feasible for city: MP| work= Chandigarh Tribune| publisher= The Tribune| access-date= 25 March 2015| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140909122950/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140701/cth1.htm| archive-date= 9 September 2014| url-status= live| df= dmy-all}}</ref> With an estimated cost of around [[Indian Rupee|₹]]109&nbsp;billion including 50% funds from the governments of Punjab and Haryana and 25% from Chandigarh and government of India, funds from the [[Japanese government]] were proposed to include approximately 56% of the cost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chandigarhmetro.com/chandigarh-metro-project-cost-and-other-details/|title=Chandigarh Metro Project Cost and Other Details|author=Ajay Deep|work=Chandigarh Metro|access-date=12 March 2015|date=15 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315002632/http://chandigarhmetro.com/chandigarh-metro-project-cost-and-other-details/|archive-date=15 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chandigarhmetro.com/|title=Chandigarh Metro – Know what's happening in Chandigarh|work=Chandigarh Metro|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314191657/http://chandigarhmetro.com/|archive-date=14 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the project was turned down owing to its non-feasibility. Kher promised a film city for Chandigarh. After winning the seat, she said that she had difficulty in acquiring land in Chandigarh.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/trying-to-get-film-city-for-chandigarh-soon-kirron-kher-114082500941_1.html|title=Trying to get Film City for Chandigarh soon: Kirron Kher|author=Press Trust of India|date=25 August 2014|work=business-standard.com|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113120346/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/trying-to-get-film-city-for-chandigarh-soon-kirron-kher-114082500941_1.html|archive-date=13 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Her proposal was accepted by the Chandigarh Administration and the [[Chandigarh film city|film city]] is proposed to be set up in Sarangpur, Chandigarh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chandigarh.gov.in/admn_new_init_filmcity.htm|title=Official Website of Chandigarh Administration|work=chandigarh.gov.in|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112185824/http://chandigarh.gov.in/admn_new_init_filmcity.htm|archive-date=12 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> This has been considered as a source of employment in the future.

The Mango Festival held during the [[monsoons]], and other festivals are held at [[Sukhna Lake]].

[[File:Gandhi Bhawan at Punjab University.jpg|thumb|[[Gandhi Bhawan, Chandigarh|Gandhi Bhavan]] built by [[Pierre Jeanneret]] for [[Panjab University]]]]

According to Chandigarh administration's department of education, there are a total of 115 government schools in Chandigarh,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chdeducation.gov.in/?q=node/4|title=Government Schools {{!}} Department of Education Chandigarh Administration|website=chdeducation.gov.in|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> including [[Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector-16, Chandigarh|Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16]], [[Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Chandigarh|Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya]], [[Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh|Bhavan Vidyalaya]], convent schools like [[St. Stephen's School, Chandigarh|St. Stephen's School]], [[St. John's High School, Chandigarh]], [[Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School]], [[St. Kabir Public School]], [[St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School]] and [[Carmel Convent School]] and other private schools like [[Delhi Public School, Chandigarh|Delhi Public School]] and [[D.A.V. Public School]].

Nehru said of Chandigarh when he first visited the site of the new city in 1952: "Let this be a new town, symbolic of the freedom of India, unfettered by the traditions of the past, an expression of the nation's faith in the future".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/08/17/chandigarh-exhibited-in-new-york/ |title=Chandigarh Exhibited in New York |work=Wall Street Journal |access-date=7 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101025024/http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/08/17/chandigarh-exhibited-in-new-york/ |archive-date=1 January 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> For Nehru, Chandigarh represented a vision for how a new planned city could be a canvas for the regeneration of the nation itself after centuries of oppression under British colonial rule and the dilution of Indian character from the nation's towns. Guided by the architectural optics of [[Le Corbusier]] the development of '''Chandigarh''' was part of a state-driven exercise to break from the traditions of imperialism in [[urban planning|city making]] and begin the process of healing from the injustices suffered.<ref name="Making Chandigarh">{{cite book |last=Kalia|first=Ravi|date=1990|title=Chandigarh: The making of an Indian city|location=New Delhi|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=5|isbn=978-0-195-65030-3}}</ref>

To the extent that Chandigarh epitomises the destructive influence of the British, in the impetus of its creation as a solution to the otherwise violent partitioning of territory between India and Pakistan, it represents an early ideological symbol for the birth of India's future. The selection of the physical site involved an extensive vetting process. Many existing towns in Punjab were surveyed as options for the new capital and dismissed for poor performance in relation to factors such as military defensibility and capacity for accommodating potential refugee influxes. The construction of a new town in Chandigarh was determined to be the best option due to its relative strength in these factors as well as its proximity to the national capital, New Delhi, its central location within the state of Punjab, its abundance of fecund land and its beautiful natural landscape.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chandigarh.gov.in/knowchd_gen_historical.htm |title=Historical Background |work=Government of Chandigarh |access-date=7 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519173408/http://http/ |archive-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

These examples from a genealogy of [[Ideal city|utopian urban forms]] developed in post-independence India as a panacea for issues related to [[underdevelopment]] as well as post-independence complications to do with separatist religious conflict and the resulting diplomatic tensions. Chandigarh is the first example of a state-funded master-planned [[modernization theory|modernisation scheme]]. These "urban utopias" attempt to enforce nation-building policies through a federalised rule of law at a regional level, and diffuse postcolonial urbanism which codes justice in its design.<ref name="urban utopias">{{cite journal |last1=Datta|first1=Ayona|s2cid=54070842|title=New urban utopias of postcolonial India: 'Entrepreneurial urbanization' in Dholera smart city, Gujarat|journal=Dialogues in Human Geography|volume=5|issue=1|pages=4|doi=10.1177/2043820614565748|url=http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/83074/3/__ds.leeds.ac.uk_staff_staff15_libmh_SCoReS_Repository_Datta_paper_sympletic%5B1%5D.pdf}}</ref> The intent is that the economic success and progressivism of cities such as Chandigarh as a lightning rod for social change would gradually be emulated at the scale of the nation. Chandigarh was for Nehru and Le Corbusier an embodiment of the egalitarian potential offered by [[modernism]], where the machine age would complete the liberation of the nation's citizens through the productive capacity of industrial technology and the relative ease of constructing civic facilities such as dams, hospitals, and schools; the very antithesis of the conservative and traditional legacy of colonialism.<ref name="National Identity"/> Though built as a state capital Chandigarh came to be focused in industry and higher education.<ref name="Indian new towns"/> The specialisation of these new towns in particular functions represents a crucial aspect of the modernisation process as a decolonising enterprise, in completing a national portfolio where each town forms a part of the utopian model for contemporary India.

The post-colonialism of Chandigarh is rooted in the transformation of the political ideas of those such as Nehru who generated a new Indian nationalism into the design of newly built forms.<ref name="postcolonial">{{cite journal |last1=Shaw|first1=Annapurna|s2cid=145266110|title=Town Planning in Postcolonial India, 1947–1965: Chandigarh Re-Examined|journal=Urban Geography|volume=30|issue=8|pages=864–873|doi=10.2747/0272-3638.30.8.857|year=2009}}</ref> Scholars such as [[Edward Said]] have emphasised the sinister nature of nostalgia and the romanticisation of colonial architecture in newly independent colonies as artefacts that perpetuate the ideological legacy of the hegemony and replicate the hierarchy of power even after decolonisation.<ref name="decolonisation">{{cite journal|last1=James-Chakraborty|first1=Kathleen|title=Beyond postcolonialism: New directions for the history of nonwestern architecture|journal=Frontiers of Architectural Research|volume=3|issue=1|pages=2|doi=10.1016/j.foar.2013.10.001|year=2014|doi-access=free}}</ref> Insofar as modernism in architecture (which defined town planning under the Nehru era of rule) represents an active radical break from tradition and a colonial past even the very presence of Le Corbusier has been recognised as an indelible resistance to the British construction legacy, as he provided the first non-British influence on design thinking in India, enabling a generational shift in the contemporary cohort of architects and planners to be hired by the state throughout the rest of the century who were initiated under Modernist conditioning.<ref name="postcolonial"/> As early as the 1950s the presence of the [[International Style (architecture)|International Style]] could be detected in the design of houses in India, "whether [[mistri]] or architect-designed".<ref name="independent architecture">{{cite book |last1=Lang|first1=Jon|last2=Desai|first2=Madhavi|last3=Desai|first3=Miki|date=1997|title=Architecture and Independence: The Search for Identity—India 1880 to 1980|location=New York, NY|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA|page=213|isbn=978-0-195-63900-1}}</ref> The development of low-cost housing was a priority for Chandigarh, and the modern forms designed by Corbusier are characterised by a dispensing with colonial forms focused on classic aesthetics and a refocusing on strategies such as using narrow frontages and orientation for minimising direct exposure to the sun and maximising natural ventilation and efficient cost while providing modern amenities in the International Style aesthetic.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jackson|first1=Iain|s2cid=143917493|title=Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew's early housing and neighborhood planning in Sector-22, Chandigarh|journal=Planning Perspectives|volume=28|issue=1|pages=12|doi=10.1080/02665433.2013.734993|year=2013}}</ref> These developments are credited as the beginning of a "Chandigarh architecture", inspiring gradual experimentation with form and an "Indianising" of the International Style which precipitated the formation of the country's new cultural identity in town design.<ref name="postcolonial"/>

Criticisms are well established of the implementation of the postcolonial vision of Nehru and Le Corbusier, and of the critical emphasis on its influence. Claims have been made that the focus on Corbusier's architect-centered discourse erases the plural authorship of the narrative of Chandigarh's development, arguing that it was, in fact, a hybridity of values and of "contested modernities" of Western and indigenous Indian origin and cultural exchanges rather than an uncontested administrative enterprise.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Perera|first1=Nihal|s2cid=220332059|title=Contesting visions: hybridity, liminality, and authorship of the Chandigarh plan|journal=Planning Perspectives|volume=19|issue=2|pages=178|doi=10.1080/0266543042000192466|year=2004}}</ref> Such criticism is consistent with claims that decolonisation in India has marked a shift from segregation based on race to segregation based on class, and that planned cities are truly "designed" ones which represent the values and interests of a westernised middle-class Indian elite which ignore the complexities of India's diverse ethnic and cultural landscape and enabled neocolonial hierarchies such as the imposition of the Hindi language on non-conforming castes.<ref name="Making Chandigarh"/><ref name="National Identity"/><ref name="postcolonial"/> Brent C. Brolin argues that Le Corbusier ignored Indian preferences in designing the housing and communities, and that the residents have done what they can to recreate their accustomed lifestyle.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brolin|first1=Brent C.|date=1976|title=The Failure of Modern Architecture|location=London, England|publisher=Studio Vista|isbn=0289707536}}</ref> Furthermore, the early over-saturation of the minimalist International Style on building design in Chandigarh has attracted criticisms of effecting a "democratic, self-effacing banality", though this criticism is perhaps negligent of how this was necessary in galvanising higher standards of urban living throughout the country.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bhatt|first1=Vikram|last2=Scriver|first2=Peter|date=1990|title=Contemporary Indian Architecture: After the Masters.|location=Ahmedabad, India|publisher=Mapin|page=15|isbn=978-0-944-14219-6}}</ref>

* [[Binny Bansal]], founder of [[Flipkart]], Billionaire.<ref name="dnaindia.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-mukesh-ambani-india-s-richest-for-9th-year-flipkart-s-bansals-new-entrants-2128160|title=Mukesh Ambani India's richest for 9th year; Flipkart's Bansals new entrants|work=DNA|date=24 September 2015|access-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004221549/http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-mukesh-ambani-india-s-richest-for-9th-year-flipkart-s-bansals-new-entrants-2128160|archive-date=4 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

* [[Sachin Bansal]], founder of [[Flipkart]], Billionaire.<ref name="dnaindia.com"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-03-10/news/48083953_1_sachin-bansal-flipkart-amod-malviya|title=From Rs 10,000 to $1-bn: The journey of Sachin & Binny Bansal's Flipkart|work=The Economic Times|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403042518/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-03-10/news/48083953_1_sachin-bansal-flipkart-amod-malviya|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

* [[Sabeer Bhatia]], Indian-American Entrepreneur who founded [[Hotmail]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iammadeinindia.com/?p=1103|title=Sabeer Bhatia – "The HotMale behind Hotmail"|work=iammadeinindia.com|access-date=12 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311082237/http://www.iammadeinindia.com/?p=1103|archive-date=11 March 2015}}</ref>

* [[Jaspal Bhatti]], Padma Bhushan Awardee, Film and TV Actor and renowned satirist

* [[Surveen Chawla]], Punjabi Film Actress

* [[Sandesh Jhingan]], Indian International Professional footballer

* [[AJ Kanwar]], award Winning Dermatologist, Former Professor  & Head, PGI, Chandigarh

* [[Anjum Moudgil]], Indian Rifle Shooter

* [[Gul Panag]], Indian film actress and Social Activist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/gul-panag/biography.html|title=Gul Panag|work=FilmiBeat|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214101938/http://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/gul-panag/biography.html|archive-date=14 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

* [[Gajendra Pal Singh Raghava]], Bioinformatics Scientist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biospectrumindia.com/biospecindia/features/174140/notable-bioinformatician-i-dr-gajendra-pal-singh-raghava-i|title=Notable bioinformatician – Dr Gajendra Pal Singh Raghava|work=biospectrumindia.com|access-date=12 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428064034/http://www.biospectrumindia.com/biospecindia/features/174140/notable-bioinformatician-i-dr-gajendra-pal-singh-raghava-i|archive-date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

* [[Kulraj Randhawa]], Punjabi Film Actress<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/Kulraj-Randhawa-works-with-Dharmendra-again/articleshow/25214903.cms|title=Kulraj Randhawa works with Dharmendra again|work=The Times of India|access-date=21 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017085022/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/Kulraj-Randhawa-works-with-Dharmendra-again/articleshow/25214903.cms|archive-date=17 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

* [[Mohinder Singh Randhawa]], Civil Servant who had a major role in establishing Chandigarh

* [[Jeev Milkha Singh]], professional Golfer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iloveindia.com/sports/golf/players/jeev-milkha-singh.html|title=Jeev Milkha Singh Profile|work=iloveindia.com|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409015242/http://www.iloveindia.com/sports/golf/players/jeev-milkha-singh.html|archive-date=9 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->  

* [[New Chandigarh, Punjab]]

==Notes==

* Nangia, Ashish. ''Re-locating Modernism: Chandigarh, Le Corbusier and the Global Postcolonial''. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Washington, 2008.

[[Category:Union territories of India]]

[[Category:Districts of Chandigarh]]