After the UT admin decided to construct an underpass connecting Rose Garden with Sector 17 it is learnt the UT architect department objected

The UT architect department has been watching silently as most of its proposals are being shot down by other departments. In a city that is known for its architecture and planning excellence around the globe, the architect department has failed to save it from going astray from the path set by Le Corbusier.

Looking at some of the projects in the past three years, it becomes evident how despite objections of the UT architect department, these were given the go-ahead.

Railings installed on a median on Madhya Marg in Chandigarh.
Railings installed on a median on Madhya Marg in Chandigarh. - Even as the UT architect department objected to the move and stated that the height should not be more than 3 feet, the engineering department went on to install 5-foot-high railings in April this year. (HT File) © Hindustan Times

In October 2014, UT chief architect Kapil Setia, who is also a member of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) governing body, strongly objected to allowing grilles in balconies and verandahs of houses of all categories under the CHB. 

But the board went ahead and allowed the grilles. Setia in his written objection stated that it would have wide ramifications as it could adversely affect the urban design of group housing units. He also stated that a similar demand could be raised by private group housing societies in southern sectors where the floor area ratio (FAR) had been exhausted.

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Selection of architect

Around two months back, the UT engineering department decided to hire a private architect to design the proposed new secretariat building in Sector 9. 

It was the engineering department that finalised the architect. The UT chief architect was just a member of the committee.