India, April 13 -- In the precise rhythm of Chandigarh's sectors-where every line once served a purpose-a new disruption is emerging, not through construction, but through calculation. A proposed hike in fines for building violations, from Rs.500 to a steep Rs.1 lakh, is triggering conversations across drawing rooms, council chambers, and architectural forums.

The intention is clear: to safeguard the city's master plan and architectural legacy. But Chandigarh is no longer the tabula rasa it was in the 1950s. Cities evolve-so do their needs, pressures, and realities. This move raises a pressing question: are we preserving a vision or penalising adaptation? And at what point does protecting the plan start undermining the people who live wi...