THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS EDICT IS TO ENLIGHTEN THE PRESENT AND FUTURE CITIZENS OF CHANIDGARH ABOUT THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF PLANNING OF THE CITY SO THAT THEY BECOME ITS GUARDIANS AND SAVE IT FROM THE WHIMS OF INDIVIDUALS. THIS EDICT SETS OUT THE FOLLOWING BASIC IDEAS UNDERLYING THE PLANNING OF THE CITY.
HUMAN SCALE. THE CITY OF CHANDIGARH IS PLANNED TO HUMAN SCALE, IT PUTS US IN TOUCH WITH THE INFINITE COSMOS AND NATURE. IT PROVIDES US WITH PLACES AND BUILDINGS FOR ALL HUMAN ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE CITIZENS CAN LIVE A FULL AND HARMONIOUS LIFE; HERE THE RADIANCE OF NATURE AND HEART ARE WITHIN OUR REACH.
SECTORS.THE CITY IS COMPOSED OF SECTORS. EACH SECTOR IS 1/2 MILE BY 3/4 MILE, 800 METERS BY 1200 METERS, ENCLOSED BY ROADS ALLOCATED TO FAST MECHANISED TRANSPORT, AND SEALED TO DIRECT ACCESS FROM THE HOUSES. EACH SECTOR CATERS TO THE DAILY NEEDS OF THE INHABITANTS, WHICH VARY FROM 5,000 TO 25,000, AND HAS A GREEN STRIP ORIENTED LONGITUDINALLY STRETCHING CENTRALLY ALONG THE SECTOR IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MOUNTAINS. THE GREEN STRIP SHOULD STAY UNINTERRUPTED AND ACCOMMODATE SCHOOLS, SPORT FIELDS, WALKS, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE SECTOR.VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IS COMPLETELY FORBIDDEN IN THE GREEN STRIPS, WHERE TRANQUILITY SHALL REIGN, AND THE CURSE OF NOISES SHALL NOT PENETRATE.
ROADS. THE ROADS OF THE CITY ARE CLASSIFIED INTO SEVEN CATEGORIES, KNOWN AS SYTEM OF SEVEN Vs, AS BELOW:
V.1 FAST ROADS CONNECTING CHANDIGARH TO OTHER TOWNS
V.2 ARTERIAL ROADS
V.3 FAST VEHICULAR ROADS
V.4 MEANDERING SHOPPING STREETS
V.5 SECTOR CIRCULATING ROADS
V.6 ACCESS ROADS TO HOUSES
V.7 FOOT PATHS AND CYCLE TRACKSBUSES WILL ONLY BE ON
V.1, V.2, V.3 AND V.4. A WALL SHALL SEAL THE V.3 ROADS FROM THE SECTORS. AREAS OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL INTEREST. CERTAIN AREAS OF CHANDIGARH ARE A SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL INTEREST. WHERE HARMONISED AND UNIFIED COMPOSITION OF BUILDINGS IS AIMED AT ABSOLUTE ARCHITECTURAL AND ZONING CONTROL SHOULD REMAIN OPERATIVE.
ALONG V.2 DUAL CARRIAGE-WAYS MADYA MARG AND UTTAR MARG, WHERE SKYLINE, HEIGHTS, CHARACTER, AND ARCHITECTURE OF BUILDINGS AS PLANNED SHALL NOT BE ALTERED. NO BUILDING SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED NORTH OF THE CAPITOL COMPLEX.
CITY CENTRE. THE CENTRAL PLAZA IN SECTOR 17 WAS DESIGNATED BY LE CORBUSIER ’PEDESTRIAN PARADISE’. NO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WOULD BE PERMITTED IN THE PLAZA. INDUSTRIAL AREA. ONLY SUCH INDUSTRY AS IS POWERED BY ELECTRICITY WOULD BE PERMITTED IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA, SO THAT THE ATMOSPHERE IS SAVED FROM POLLUTION.
THE LAKE. THE LAKE IS A GIFT OF THE CREATORS OF CHANDIGARH TO THE CITIZENS TO BE AT ONE WITH NATURE AWAY FROM THE HUBBUB OF THE CITY LIFE. THERE SHALL BE NO COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF THE LAKE AND ITS ENVIRONMENTS, AND ITS TRANQUILITY SHALL BE GUARANTEED BY BANNING NOISES.
LANDSCAPING. THE LANDSCAPING OF THIS CITY IS BASED ON CAREFUL OBSERVATION OF THE VEGETATION OF INDIA, SELECTED ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, AND CLIMBERS HAVE BEEN PLANTED ACCORDING TO COLOUR SCHEMES TO BEAUTIFY IT IN FUTURE PLANTING AND REPLACEMENTS SO THAT THE AVENUES RETAIN THEIR HARMONY AND BEAUTY. THE LEISURE VALLEY, THE RAJENDRA PARK, AND OTHER PARKS SHALL BE DEVELOPED AS PARKS ONLY, AND NO BUILDING OTHER THAN THOSE ALREADY PLANNED SHALL BE PERMITTED.
NO PERSONAL STATUES SHALL BE ERECTED. THE AGE OF PERSONAL STATUES IS GONE. NO PERSONAL STATUES SHALL BE ERECTED IN THE CITY OR PARKS OF CHANDIGARH.
THE CITY IS PLANNED TO BREATHE THE NEW SUBLIMATED SPIRIT OF ART. COMMEMORATION OF PERSONS SHALL BE CONFINED TO SUITABLY PLACED BRONZE PLAQUES.
TRUTHFULNESS OF BUILDING MATERIALS IS TO BE MAINTAINED. THE TRUTHFULNESS OF MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION, CONCRETE, BRICKS, AND STONE SHALL BE MAINTAINED IN ALL BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED OR TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
THE SEED OF CHANDIGARH IS WELL SOWN. IT IS FOR THE CITIZENS TO SEE THAT THE TREE FLOURISHES.
Source:
Chandigarh Architecture Museum, Chandigarh Exhibition.
(MH)
