Chandigarh, August 12:- Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT Chandigarh Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria today laid the foundation stone of a new modern Community Centre in Sector 29, describing it as more than a construction project and a significant step towards creating a vibrant centre of community life, social harmony and citizen participation.

Sh. Saurabh Joshi, Mayor, Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, Commissioner, Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla, former Mayor and Area Councillor, other Councillors, and senior officers of the Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Corporation were present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria said that laying the foundation stone of a building might appear to be the beginning of a construction project, but in reality it marked the foundation of a stronger and more connected community. He said that a city's identity was not defined merely by wide roads, beautiful buildings and modern infrastructure, but also by the opportunities it provided to citizens to meet, interact, share experiences and participate in each other's social life.

The Governor said that community centres are an important part of the social infrastructure of a modern city. Such facilities provide common spaces where children and youth can engage in constructive activities, senior citizens can participate in social and wellness programmes, women can undertake skill development and awareness activities, and residents can come together to discuss local issues and work towards solutions.

Referring to Chandigarh's unique planning heritage, Sh. Kataria said that Chandigarh was conceived as a modern and planned city where each sector was envisaged as a self-sufficient neighbourhood unit, with facilities for education, health, recreation, shopping and community life. He said that the new Community Centre in Sector 29 would therefore not merely add another building to the city, but would carry forward the basic planning philosophy of Chandigarh.

He emphasised that the new facility should become a true “community connect centre”, rather than remaining limited to marriages and social functions. It should serve children, youth, women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities and provide opportunities for cultural, educational, recreational and social activities.

The Governor stressed the importance of making public infrastructure inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable. He said that facilities such as barrier-free access, accessible toilets, natural lighting and ventilation, rainwater harvesting, solar energy, water conservation and energy-efficient systems should be encouraged wherever possible. He suggested that the name of these community centres would be 'Jan Upyogi Kendras'.

Sh. Kataria also called upon citizens to take ownership of public facilities and adopt the spirit of “My City, My Responsibility.” He said that no Municipal Corporation could make a city clean, beautiful and well-managed without active public participation. Citizens must contribute by maintaining cleanliness, segregating waste at source, avoiding single-use plastic, conserving water and energy and protecting public property.

Highlighting the importance of youth participation, the Governor said that young people should not merely wait for the future but should actively participate in building it. He suggested that community centres could become platforms for skill development, employment guidance, entrepreneurship, sports, digital literacy, cyber-safety, environmental awareness and de-addiction initiatives.

He also underlined the importance of sustainable urban development, saying that future generations would judge today's development not merely by the number of buildings constructed, but by the quality of water, greenery and environment left behind for them. He stressed that true development was development that fulfilled present needs without compromising the rights and requirements of future generations.

The Governor further emphasised the need for transparent, citizen-centric and technology-enabled municipal services, timely completion of projects, quality construction and proper maintenance. He called upon the concerned officers to ensure that the Sector 29 Community Centre was completed within the stipulated timeline and to the highest standards of quality.

Sh. Kataria said that the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 could be realised only through developed cities, developed neighbourhoods and responsible citizens. A developed city, he said, should not merely have modern infrastructure but should also be clean, green, inclusive, accessible, safe and sensitive to the needs of every section of society.

He expressed confidence that the Sector 29 Community Centre would become a vibrant platform for social interaction, cultural activities, community welfare and citizen participation, contributing to the vision of a clean, green, inclusive and developed Chandigarh.

Earlier, welcoming the Chief Guest and other dignitaries, Chandigarh Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi said that the new Community Centre would provide modern facilities to residents and further strengthen community infrastructure in the city.

He said that the proposed Community Centre will be constructed over a 29,440 sq. ft. plot and will comprise a Ground plus Two (G+2) storey building. The total covered area will be 17,006 sq. ft., comprising 8,511 sq. ft. on the ground floor, 3,968 sq. ft. on the first floor and 4,527 sq. ft. on the second floor. A 6,600 sq. ft. parking area has also been provided.

Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla, former Mayor and Area Councillor, said that the existing Community Centre was constructed around 1986 and had served residents for nearly four decades. However, due to age and prolonged usage, the building had deteriorated considerably and its structural components had also deteriorated, making it unsuitable for continued public use.

She expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest and all dignitaries for their presence and support and presented the vote of thanks.

The project has an estimated cost of ₹7,84,67,378 (approximately ₹7.85 crore) and is scheduled for completion by 12 July 2027. The facility has been planned with modern infrastructure and improved public amenities to meet the present and future requirements of the residents of Sector 29.