Chandigarh, 1 March 2025 — A large number of residents gathered near the Rock Garden on Saturday to protest the recent demolition of a wall at the iconic tourist site. Carrying banners and chanting slogans, protesters accused the administration of an “assault on the city’s artistic and cultural identity” and marched under the banner of “Uniting for Our Chandigarh.”
The protest, led by environmentalists, artists, and heritage activists, included Deepika Gandhi, RK Garg, Paveela Bali, Amrita Singh, Samita Kaur, Amandeep Singh, and Priyanka Saini, granddaughter of Rock Garden creator Nek Chand.
Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari weighed in, calling the move a stretch even by the standards of development absolutists. He emphasized the need to preserve, protect, and promote the city’s aesthetics instead of prioritizing a parking lot over heritage.
Nek Chand’s son, Anuj Saini, condemned the demolition, stating that irreplaceable materials meant for restoration were recklessly discarded. He described it as “not just about a wall, but about erasing the legacy of a globally recognized artist.”
Environmentalists warned about the loss of green cover in the name of modernization. Architect Deepika Gandhi cautioned that unchecked urbanization would irreversibly damage Chandigarh’s original Master Plan. Advocate Satinder Singh Randhawa, grandson of city planner Dr. MS Randhawa, called the decision hasty and ill-conceived, questioning why alternative parking solutions were not explored.
Protesters urged the administration to halt further destruction and prioritize restoration. They demanded public engagement in future urban projects affecting the city’s heritage. Despite the rain, demonstrators marched to Sukhna Lake to raise awareness, with many visitors joining the cause.
