A Tale of Two Cities: The Neglected Urban Realities of Chandigarh and Panchkula

Chandigarh and Panchkula, often touted as two of northern India's most planned and modern urban centers, paint a very different picture beneath their glossy exteriors. As someone who has grown up here, witnessing their evolution, or rather their gradual unwinding, has been a deeply personal experience. What were once celebrated as paragons of urban planning and order, are now unravelling under the weight of decades of unchecked growth and neglect. Chandigarh, India’s first planned city, was a grand experiment of modernity, envisioned for a population of merely 5 lakh. Today, it grapples with challenges emblematic of India’s urban crisis- unregulated migration, crumbling infrastructure, and an ever-widening gap between promise and reality. Panchkula, while relatively younger and better organized, teeters precariously on the edge of the same fate.

On one side of these cities are the planned sectors, wide roads, and well-laid residential and commercial establishments. These areas, home to professionals, businessmen, and bureaucrats, epitomize what Chandigarh was envisioned to be- a city of order and calm. That being said, Chandigarh’s affluence is undeniable, with 79% of its population falling into the highest wealth quintile as per the NFHS 5. This makes it the wealthiest city in India. Yet, this wealth coexists with abject poverty in colonies like Hallo Majra, Mauli Jagran, Ram Darbar, Kishangarh, and Dadu Majra in Chandigarh, and Rajiv Colony, Indira Colony, and Budhanpur in Panchkula. Thousands of migrant families from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, live in abysmal conditions in these sprawling colonies, battling poor hygiene, inadequate waste management, erratic utilities, and a lack of basic civic infrastructure.

While they form a significant chunk of the cities' population, they remain woefully underserved. These colonies are treated as vote banks by political parties, courted during elections with the promise of freebies, only to be forgotten once the ballots are cast. This culture of freebie politics overpowers the long-term needs of these residents. Rather than addressing the systemic issues plaguing these colonies, politicians exploit their immediate needs to secure votes. This perpetuates a vicious cycle where basic civic governance takes a backseat, leaving these communities stuck in a state of perpetual neglect. It is pertinent to note that stark income disparity manifests in more than just quality of life. It fosters resentment, inequality, and a troubling rise in petty crimes like theft and chain-snatching. The cities’ fabric is fraying, with the planned sectors and informal colonies existing as two separate worlds. One is marked by manicured parks, orderly streets, and a sense of privilege; the other is a chaotic maze of survival, where basic dignity is an aspiration, not a given.

Chandigarh also happens to be a city constrained by its geography. It has no more land to expand, with all new developments spilling into surrounding areas like Mohali and Zirakpur in Punjab, or Panchkula in Haryana. This limitation forces the city to confront its issues without the luxury of expansion, a challenge compounded by the proliferation of unauthorized squatter settlements and colonies. These settlements are growing unchecked and the standard of living in such colonies reveals the harsh reality of urban neglect. They stand as stark reminders that expansion without integration leads only to exclusion and disparity. Panchkula, often viewed as Chandigarh’s better-organized sibling, currently enjoys certain advantages- wider roads, better traffic management, and relatively less chaos. Yet it is not immune to the creeping neglect that has marred Chandigarh’s urban landscape. The same colonies, the same migrant struggles, and the same systemic indifference are evident here too. Without timely intervention, Panchkula risks becoming a mirror image of a struggling Chandigarh.

Chandigarh and Panchkula’s vibrant cosmopolitan culture, shaped by the amalgamation of people from different states, is one of their greatest strengths. It adds richness to the cities’ social fabric, fostering inclusivity and diversity. However, this cultural plurality also brings unique challenges. Migrant communities, often living in substandard conditions, remain socially and economically isolated from the cities they help sustain. The absence of targeted policies to integrate these communities deepens their marginalization, threatening the very cosmopolitanism these cities pride themselves on.

Chandigarh, once celebrated as a "green city," now also faces severe environmental challenges. The AQI recently soared to an alarming 500, enveloping the Tricity in a dense, choking fog. For a city known for its greenery, this irony is bitter and alarming. Adding to this environmental strain are massive garbage dump yards in Dadu Majra in Chandigarh and Sector 23 in Panchkula. While efforts toward segregation and waste processing have begun, the existence of these towering heaps of garbage reflects years of systemic failure in urban waste management.

Chandigarh and Panchkula are microcosms of India’s urban struggles, simultaneously embodying immense potential and monumental neglect. They are a reminder that urban planning is not a one-time exercise but an evolving process that must adapt to changing realities. The challenges facing these two may seem daunting, but they are not insurmountable. These cities, with their rich legacy of planning and progress, have the potential to reclaim their place as models of inclusive and sustainable urban living. The key lies in collective action. Citizens, policymakers, and institutions will have to come together to address disparities, prioritize sustainable infrastructure, and embrace a vision that leaves no one behind. Chandigarh was once a beacon of modern urban planning, an inspiration for cities across Punjab and Haryana. Its meticulous grid system, open spaces, and architectural vision set the tone for urban development in independent India. Yet today, it teeters on the brink of becoming just another chaotic, overcrowded Indian metro.

If Chandigarh can reclaim its pioneering legacy and Panchkula can learn from its twin’s mistakes, these cities can still become models of inclusive, sustainable, and humane urban living. But time is running out. The longer these challenges remain unaddressed, the more these cities risk losing what made them exceptional in the first place. In the end, the story of Chandigarh and Panchkula is not just about two cities but about the choices we make as a society- to either let our urban centers spiral into chaos or commit to a vision where every resident, regardless of wealth or origin, can thrive.