The restrictions on visiting Capitol Complex, which had deterred tourists as well as local residents, are going to be eased considerably next month. The administration has begun constructing a pedestrian pathway from the recently-built tourism information centre that will provide a direct pathway to the Open Hand monument inside the complex. The pathway will pass through a small bridge, constructed by Le Corbusier in the 50s but never put to use.
Many residents are not fully aware of this heritage as entry to Capitol Complex has long been restricted for security reasons. Visitors have had to obtain multiple entry passes for different buildings, from the tourism information centre, before walking half a kilometre to enter from the high court’s gate no 1. There is frisking at the entry point of every building and additional entry passes are required at the Punjab and Haryana secretariat building on the basis of the entry passes issued by the tourism centre.
Chandigarh’s Home-cum-Tourism Secretary Anurag Agarwal said that the bridge built by Le Corbusier in 1955 will be opened and inaugurated along with other facilities on April 13.