Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. | Photo credit: ANI
Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) described Chandigarh as a testament to India’s modern vision of planned development, calling it a globally recognized model of balanced urban living.
He was addressing a gathering at ’75 Years of Chandigarh: Honoring Indian Modernists of Chandigarh’, an event jointly organized by Chandigarh Administration and Chandigarh Citizens Foundation to commemorate the city’s 75th anniversary.
Mr. Kataria appreciated the administration’s role in maintaining the unique character of the city through planned growth, cleanliness, green spaces and improvement of civic infrastructure. Referring to the city’s journey since the beginning of its development in 1951, he said Chandigarh has become a global model of balanced urban life and emphasized the need to preserve its heritage while moving towards future-ready sustainable development.
He said Indian architects, engineers and administrators played a vital role in translating the city’s vision into reality. Emphasizing public participation, he added that the people of Chandigarh have also contributed significantly to shaping the city and urged institutions, youth and citizens to actively participate in the programs planned between 2026 and 2028 to celebrate 75 years of Chandigarh.
On this occasion, the first batch of 12 Indian modernists who contributed to the planning and development of the city were honoured. Since most of them are no longer alive, the recognition went to their family members while Chief Architect SD Sharma took the honor in person. The ceremony highlighted the importance of preserving Chandigarh’s architecture, green cover and planned infrastructure while enhancing smart initiatives, sustainable development and citizen participation.
Published – 25 March 2026 03:56 IST
