Assignment

of
Urban Sociology
on
Urban Planning: A Case study on
Chandigarh and Rohtak

Submitted To: Submitted By:

Dr. Suraj Beri Pardeepika
B.A (Hons.)
Sociology
Urban Planning: A case study of Chandigarh and Rohtak

Abstract
Chandigarh was originally the only planned urban space in India. In 1966 it was declared a joint
Capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. It is now a hub of political and administrative
activities of both. It also functions as separate entity i.e. as Union Territory, it has its own
municipal corporation and governing body. Chandigarh city had a detailed planning of its space
even before the emergence of Haryana and Punjab as separate states. Le Corbusier conceived the
masterplan of Chandigarh. He designed and planned the usage of land and resources of the city
space.
However, it is interesting to see a parallel urban space which is distant from the mechanism of
urban planning. The city of Rohtak in Haryana, which is a part of NCR (National Capital
Region). Unlike Chandigarh, the creation of Rohtak was not based on any planning of one
person or a team. It was Rapid and unplanned. Gradually efforts were made to develop the urban
space of Rohtak. It gets its funds from the state as well as from National Capital Region Planning
Board for its development.

In the research, the main focus will be on comparative analysis of these two cities. How the
ecology of a properly planned city is different than the city which was unplanned and had no
specific structure for its development. An effort will also be made to understand the role of the
state or the governing body in designing the master plan of the urban space. In order to fulfil
these objectives various research articles and the City Development plans of Chandigarh and
Rohtak will be examined for comparison. Hence, this research tries to contribute to the studies of
Urban Planning and development.

Keywords: Chandigarh, Urban planning, Ecology, Rohtak, Comparative analysis, Development.

Urban planning is a technical and political process concerned with the control of the use of land
and design of the urban environment including transportation networks, to guide and ensure the
development of settlements and communities- as described by Draft development plan of Cities.
It is concerned with the development of open land and revitalization if existing parts of the city.
Urban planning involves goal setting, data collection and analysis, forecasting and public
consultation. It is also concerned with research and strategic thinking, architecture,
implementation and management. It is quite subjective to the place and the parties involve in the
task of urban planning. We can see the empirically how two cities are different on the ecological
aspects based on their urban planning.
Chandigarh, as described by the Chandigarh administration, is the dream city of India's first
Prime Minister, Sh. Jawahar Lal Nehru. The famous French architect Le Corbusier planned it.
As per the geographical location, it is located at the foothills of Shivaliks. ‘It is known as one of
the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture in the twentieth century in
India.’ as articulated by Chandigarh administration. The name 'Chandigarh’ derives from the
temple of "Chandi Mandir" located in the vicinity of the site selected for the city. The deity
'Chandi', the goddess of power and a fort of 'garh' laying beyond the temple gave the city its
name "Chandigarh.” As per the historical references, In March, 1948, in consultation with the
Government of India, the Government of Punjab, approved the area of the foothills of the
Shivaliks as the site for the new capital. In 1952, the foundation stone of the city was laid. The
city assumed the unique distinction of being the capital city of both, Punjab and Haryana while it
itself was declared as a Union Territory and under the direct control of the Central Government.
On the other hand, Rohtak , a district in Haryana is quite different from Chandigarh as a urban
space. It is approximately 240KMs far from Chandigarh and 75kms away from National Capital.
It derives its name from its headquarter's town which was earlier said to be Rohtashgarh. It was
site of forest of Rohitaka trees and hence its name became ‘Rohtak'- as described by the official
data of Rohtak administration. It also has its municipal corporation and governing body. Unlike
Chandigarh it has its organisational chart which includes the post of Magistrate, sub-divisional
magistrate and go on. The master plan of Chandigarh was firstly created in 1951 but on the other
hand Rohtak's master plan for the development of the city, came in existence much lately.
A pre-historic past exist of both the cities. In Chandigarh, the fossil remains found at the site
indicate a large variety of aquatic and amphibian life, which was supported by that environment.
The area was also known to be a home to the Harappans about 8000 years ago. On the other
hand, Rohtak area was in possession of sindhis later passed to Britishers and came under the
administration of provinces.
The following are the diagrams of both the cities showing their structure of growth and
development:

Source: chandigarh.gov.in
Description: Image showing Le Courbusier's first plan of Chandigarh,1951

Source:rohtak.gov.in
Description: Rohtak’s geographical area without any plan

If we compare the maps of both the cities(including their master plan developments) we can see
a huge difference between them on the basis of ecological aspects.
Chandigarh as a site of development was selected in 1948 taking into account various
attributes such as its Central location in the state, proximity to the national capital. Availability
of sufficient water supply, fertile of soil, gradient of land for natural drainage, beautiful site with
the panorama of blue hills as backdrop & moderate climate was also an important aspect to it.
It is mentioned in the official information in the Chandigarh's administration that
An American Firm, M/s. Mayer, Whittlessay and Glass was commissioned in 1950 to prepare the Master Plan for
the new City. Albert Mayer and Mathew Novicki evolved a fan shaped Master Plan and worked out conceptual
sketches of the super block. Novicki was tragically killed in an air accident and Mayer decided to discontinue.
Thereafter, the work was assigned to a team of architects led by Charles Eduard Jeanneret better known as Le
Corbusier in 1951.

Le Corbusier who also designed the Capital Complex, developed the Master Plan and
established the architectural control. Sector is the primary module of city’s design. Le Corbusier
conceived the master plan of Chandigarh as analogous to human body, with a clearly defined
head (the Capitol Complex, Sector 1), heart (the City Centre Sector-17), lungs ( the leisure
valley, innumerable open spaces and sector greens), the intellect (the cultural and educational
institutions), the circulatory system (the network of roads, the 7Vs) and the viscera (the

Industrial Area).

The concept of the city is based on four major functions: living, working, care of the body and
spirit and circulation. Residential sectors constitute the living part whereas the Capitol Complex,
City Centre, Educational Zone (Post Graduate Institute, Punjab Engineering College, Panjab
University) and the Industrial Area constitute the working part. The Leisure Valley, Gardens,
Sector Greens and Open Courtyards etc. are for the care of body and spirit. The circulation
system comprises of 7 different types of roads known as 7Vs. Later on, a pathway for cyclists
called V8 were added to this circulation system. The city centre (Sector 17) is the heart of
Chandigarh's activities. It comprises the Inter-State Bus Terminus, Parade Ground, District
Courts, etc.
On the other hand, the development plan of Rohtak city for 2025 was prepared in 2006. It is
similar to the original master plan of Chandigarh up to some extent. An effort to be made for
the land use. A Sector is the primary unit in the land use planning( similar to that of Chandigarh)
No plans were made earlier for the development of the city. It was just random and rapid. No
planning of its creation, construction and further development were executed. No person or
team was included in its development at the early stages. It was neither a part of state's
interest, for growth and development.

There is a fascinating and interesting Design of the public spaces in Chandigarh. But on the
other hand no such mention were done for beautifying the urban spaces of Rohtak earlier.
Gradually efforts were being made to structure the city's space but there is still a huge
difference between a space that is planned starting from its origin and still going on, from a
space that is taking shape much after it. In Chandigarh, there are huge areas which have
provided in its master plan for parks. About 2000 acres are meant for development of parks, Out
of a total area of 20,000 acres acquired. Leisure Valley, Rajendra park, Bougainvillea Park,
Zakir Rose Garden, Shanti Kunj, Hibiscus Garden, Garden of Fragrance, Botanical Garden,
Smriti Upavan, Topiary garden and Terraced Garden are some of the famous parks of
Chandigarh. Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, Government Museum and Art Gallery are major tourist
attractions of Chandigarh.

Educational, cultural and medical facilities are spread all over city but in more structured way as
compared to Rohtak. However, major institutions are located in Sectors 10, 11, 12, 14 and 26 in
Chandigarh. In it the shopping street of each sector is connected to the shopping street of the
adjoining sectors thus forming one long. The central green area of each Sector also stretches to
the green area of the next sector. On the other hand, in Rohtak there are markets including local,
street Market and Shopping malls, but not is such organised and structural manner. Private
enterprise are free from the administration control in context of organisation and construction.
The hierarchy of open space is mostly visible in Chandigarh city. The open space ensuring the
central green in each sector on the other hand, open space at community level consist of parks
around which clusters of houses re- arranged on the front and rear side, open space is the
courtyards provided in each dwelling. The three architectural masterpieces are comprised in
Capital complex : the "Secretariat", the "High Court" and the "Legislative Assembly". In the
heart of the Capital Complex stands the giant metallic sculpture of The Open Hand, the official
emblem of Chandigarh. It is signifying the city's credo of "open to given, open to receive"-as
described by its administration. Its roads describes unique feature in the layout of Chandigarh.
These classified in line with their functions. In order to ensure efficient traffic circulation, an
integrated system of seven roads was designed. Corbusier referred to these as the 7'Vs. The 7Vs
establishes a hierarchy of traffic circulation ranging from : arterial roads (V1), major boulevards
(V2) sector definers (V3), shopping streets (V4), neighbourhood streets (V5), access lanes (V6)
and pedestrian paths and cycle tracks (V7s and V8s). The essence of his plan for Chandigarh
rests on preserving intact the true functions of these seven types of roads.
Consequently the remarkable hierarchy of movement was led by this arrangement of road-use,
which also make sure that the residential areas are segregated from the noise and pollution of
traffic.
The industrial area comprises 2.35 sq kms, set-aside in the Master Plan for non-polluting, light
industry on the extreme south-eastern side of the city near the railway line, as far away from the
Educational Sectors and Capitol Complex as possible. An integral part of the city's Master Plan
is Tree plantation and landscaping. Twenty six different types of flowering and 22 species of
evergreen trees have been planted along the roads, in parking areas, residential areas, shopping
complexes and in the city parks.
Each 'Sector' or the neighboured unit, is quite similar to the traditional Indian ''mohalla.” Each
Sector is meant to be self-sufficient, with shopping and community facilities within reasonable
walking distance.
'The functions of living occupies primary place. The housing in the city can be sub-divided into
two parts- Government housing and Private Housing. The Govt. housing in the city was divided
into 13 categories. It is ranging from the house for the Chief Minister to the lowest paid
employee. And a series of such houses were planned around community level open space which
served the purpose of holding social and religious functions and outdoor activities and games by
children.
In important civic areas, aesthetical harmony between all buildings is a must because
architectural is a visual art and the visual impact forms should be as beautiful and organized as
can be. Accordingly, to curb undue individualism in the built environment, Le Corbusier
conceived a number of mechanisms to regulate the development of private buildings in the city.
These included architectural controls, frame controls and zoning controls in the city. The basic
aim was to maintain uniformity in skyline, heights and the architectural character.
Architectural controls is applicable specially to buildings to be built by private enterprises in
special areas. Further controls on private construction in the city have been imposed which
govern and lay down the minimum standards of construction. Similarly in shopping street,
architectural order is ensured by development of shops as architectural controls. This ensures
harmonious development in accordance to the plan.
On the other hand if we see the urban planning in Rohtak, there is an aspect of 'will' i.e. the plan
is proposed in 2006 for the goals to be achieved in 2025. The residential area will cover an area
of 2740 hectares in few sectors. Major part of residential area of the city will be in the northern
parts of the city. Few sectors will be proposed for commercial uses. Predefined areas for services
and solid waste management is also proposed.
From the above discussion it can be clearly seen a difference in the urban planning of both the
cities. Chandigarh's urban space is experiencing more advanced development strategies because
it started its development a long back. Rohtak is different and we can say much behind in the
race of urban planning because it will take much time to be like Chandigarh (even like it’s 1950s
or 60s). It is also important to note that these structural, architectural design and changes take
place at their own speed. State plays an important role in shaping the urban planning of the
particular area. The reference of it can be seen in the above discussed case study. The funds for
the development of the Rohtak are provided by state but in context of Chandigarh, the
development is sponsored by both the states and centre government as it is a union Territory.
There is far much difference between the master plan of Chandigarh and Rohtak that is to be
achieved in the near future. This can be seen from the following figures;

Source: chandigarh.gov.in source: rohtak.gov.in

Description: Chandigarh's masterplan,2031 Description: Rohtak’smasterplan,2025

It is clearly visible that the master plan of Chandigarh is more structurally oriented as compared
to that of Rohtak.

Mumord's work in 'The City in History' describes how there are multiple factors and
systemetical aspects that lead to the development of cities. It is empirically true in context of
Rohtak but not in case of Chandigarh. As the development of this city is properly analysed and
researched. It is more structurally planned. All the aspects that are included in the ecological
sphere like housing, infrastructure, roads, transportation, educational institutions and all the
public places are planned by a team of people in consultation with the centre government.

Marx's and Weber’s ideas of city can also be put into account. As Weber argued that there are
multiple causal effects to any situation but in context of Chandigarh it is not the case. There is
only one reason i.e. development by the architectural units through urban planning. In Marx's
work we can articulate how the development of capitalism lead to the development of
urbanism i.e. development of urban spaces or cities near the industrial areas. It was also
mentioned in the Holton's text on ‘Cities, Capitalism and Civilization' that the development of
cities and capitalism went hand in hand. But when we think of Chandigarh, industrial paradigm
is not the cause for its structured and organised development. Neither the lower class people
living at the outskirts of the city nor the land holdings belongs to particular kind of elites.

In the text 'Urbanism as a way of life' by Louis Wirth shows how there is an increasing
importance of the physical appearance of the urban spaces. There is no such steps taken for the
individuals rather more emphasis is laid on the appearance and beauty of the urban space. This
physical aspect has a great importance in the urban planning and it has gained a separate
identity for itself. From the case study it is clearly shown as how the master plan of both the
cities emphasised on just one aspect i.e. ecological aspect.

From the above discussion, comparative analysis of Chandigarh and Rohtak are presented. And
also the differences between the ecology of a properly planned city and the city which was
unplanned and had no specific structure for its development. An effort is made to show the role
of the state or the governing body in designing the master plan of the urban space. Hence, this
research tries to contribute to the studies of Urban Planning and development.

References:
Mumford, Lewis 1961. The City in History: it’s origin and transformations and it’s prospects,
Mariner Books: Pp 3-29, 94-118
Holton, R.J. Cities, Capitalism and Civilization, London: Allan and Unwin, Chapters.1&2. Pp1-
32
Lewis, Wirth 1938 “ Urbanism as a way of Life” in American Journal of Sociology, Vol.
44,No.1(July), Pp. 1-24
Fry Maxwell. E 1955, Chandigarh and Planning development in India, Journal of royal society of
arts, Vol. 103, Pp 315-333
Sites:

Chandigarh.gov.in

rohtak.gov.in