The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has included Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex in its list of sites to be considered for the world heritage status for the year 2016. The complex is part of a trans-national dossier on the work of Chandigarh’s creator Le Corbusier, which was jointly submitted to UNESCO by seven countries, including India, early this year.

In a recent letter to the UT administration, UNESCO has said that Chandigarh meets all technical requirements outlined in the operational guidelines for nomination to the world heritage list. “Our International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) will soon contact you to arrange for an evaluation of the site for the final decision,” reads the letter.

Officials said Chandigarh stood a good chance to secure the world heritage status if UNESCO’s expert team, that will be visiting the city soon, was convinced with the efforts of the local administration in preserving the site, as promised in its dossier.

Kavita Singh, Director of Tourism Department, which is the nodal agency for the project to obtain the heritage status, said that efforts are on to bring required regulation and conservation in the Capitol Complex, and further ease the visitors’ access to the complex. Results will soon be visible, she said.