Chandigarh: 75 Years of Visionary Urban Design

Seventy-five years ago, Chandigarh emerged as a global architectural masterpiece, conceived by a team led by Le Corbusier and enhanced by visionaries like MS Randhawa. The city's design features a revolutionary grid system, self-contained sectors, and an innovative traffic flow model known as 'Les Sept Voies' or the seven 'V' roads.

These seven 'V' roads range from V1 for inter-city traffic to V7 for pedestrians, with V4 designed for shaded pedestrian shopping streets and V6 for low-speed access to residences. The article explores how a Toyota Hyryder hybrid navigated these roads, utilizing electric mode on lower-speed streets and petrol on higher-speed ones.

Landmarks such as the Capitol Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Nek Chand's Rock Garden, and Sukhna Lake offer cultural and recreational experiences. The Zakir Hussain Rose Garden and Panjab University are also key attractions. While Chandigarh's core architecture of concrete and brick is celebrated, some modern additions like the JW Marriott's glass façade are noted as discordant.

Despite challenges like population pressure in southern sectors and some commercial closures, Chandigarh's northern sectors maintain their tranquility. The development of self-sufficient satellite cities like Panchkula and Mohali has significantly reduced commuter traffic, allowing Chandigarh to regain its peaceful ambiance. Seventy-five years on, the city is recognized for preserving its unique 20th-century identity, prompting reflection on why such urban planning hasn't been widely replicated in India.