Chandigarh: Technical experts from the civil engineering and architecture departments of IIT Roorkee have begun a ground survey of Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to prepare a comprehensive Site Management Plan and Buffer Management Plan. The exercise aims to ensure that future development—whether structural, permanent, temporary, green or otherwise—within the Capitol Complex and its buffer zone is undertaken in accordance with UNESCO guidelines and heritage conservation norms. Structural documentation, condition assessment and restoration are among the key areas being examined as part of the exercise.
The two plans are being conceived as the first comprehensive management documents covering both the Capitol Complex and its surrounding buffer zone. Once prepared, the plans will be submitted to UNESCO for consideration and final approval. According to the source report, any development within the Capitol Complex and its buffer zone would be permitted only after the required consent from UNESCO is obtained.
The Chandigarh administration has approved ₹2.5 crore for preparation of the Buffer Management Plan and ₹1.5 crore for the Site Management Plan, taking the total approved amount to ₹4 crore. An initial payment has already been released following approval from the competent authority. IIT Roorkee’s civil engineering and architecture experts will prepare the plans according to a detailed framework developed earlier by a private consultant and approved by the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC).
The Chandigarh administration engaged IIT Roorkee for the exercise in July 2026 and has also informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court about the development. The court is monitoring the exercise, with officials recently apprising it of IIT Roorkee’s appointment and related details. Engineers and architects from the Chandigarh administration are also assisting the IIT Roorkee team whenever required.
According to Chandigarh administration records cited in the source report, the Capitol Complex covers approximately 66 hectares, while its identified buffer zone extends across around 195 hectares. Together, the Site Management Plan and Buffer Management Plan will cover approximately 261 hectares. The buffer zone includes significant portions of Chandigarh’s northern sectors, including Sectors 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The ongoing survey is expected to provide a structured basis for heritage conservation, condition assessment and management of future interventions across the Capitol Complex and its wider buffer zone, while ensuring that development proposals remain aligned with UNESCO requirements. TOI
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