Chandigarh, 27 February — The UT engineering department has initiated a ₹3.60 crore project to install iron grilles around the Punjab and Haryana High Court, aiming to enhance security and restrict unauthorized access. A tender has been floated, and the work is expected to be completed within three months.
According to officials, the fencing will require 300,000 kilograms of mild steel, with iron priced at ₹114 per kilogram. The high court, designed by Le Corbusier, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key architectural landmark.
RTI activist RK Garg criticized the project, alleging selective enforcement of heritage conservation. “Wherever it finds convenient, the administration ignores heritage,” he said.
In a related move, the UT administration has begun widening the road leading to the high court, citing the need to reduce congestion in the parking area.
The project has led to the demolition of a section of the Rock Garden wall and the felling of around 50 trees, sparking strong opposition from residents.
Read More: Protest in Chandigarh Over Rock Garden Wall Demolition
While officials argue that the expansion is necessary to ease traffic, critics say it compromises the city’s cultural legacy. “The Rock Garden is a significant heritage site, and its destruction is unacceptable,” said a local resident.
