Pb govt approves architecture of 'New Chandigarh'

Punjab government has approved the architecture of 'New Chandigarh' in principle which will come up in the outskirts of Chandigarh with a number of iconic features, including a "green necklace".
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal gave in principle approval to the the architecture of 'New Chandigarh' with an aim to create green development in the form of a necklace, an official statement said here.
"Badal approved the creation of green development in the form of a necklace which will encircle the commercial district as well as much of the residential areas and would also include nature trails and bicycle paths," it said.

The Deputy Chief Minister also approved creation of a water front development along side the commercial district, besides creation of a 50 hectare lake, the statement quoting Sukhbir said.
He gave approval for creating grids on the same pattern as Chandigarh to ensure efficient planning of the residential areas.
However, breaking with the Chandigarh tradition of no high rising buildings, Sukhbir gave approval for high rises in both the city centre as well as in group housing areas with the only restriction being that they should be in the North-South grid, so that the view of the Shivalik mountains is not disturbed.

It was also decided that group housing would be located along the sector parks with towers facing the central greens, the statement said.
'New Chandigarh' will have a land use mix with 386 acres being earmarked for Edu City, 413 acres for Medi City, 75 acres for City Centre and 79 acres for Commercial Centre and will come under Mohali district, it said.