India, July 10 -- Conceived as a greenfield capital city of Punjab after it lost historic Lahore to the Partition, Chandigarh was envisaged by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as, "the new city of free India, totally fresh and wholly responsive to the aspirations of the nation", and, "a city unlike any in India: Modern, functional and forward-looking".

While the city's first master plan emphasised spaciousness, orderly development, and quality life, a population of over 13 lakh against the original design capacity of 5 lakh has placed tremendous pressure on the city's infrastructure, services, and green spaces, and has led to the gradual erosion of its planned character. At the same time, thoughtful urban management, policy intervent...