Centre considers Rs 30.33-crore upgrade for Chandigarh museum

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Chandigarh, August 16

The Government Museum and Art Gallery in Chandigarh’s Sector 10 is being considered for a ₹30.33-crore modernisation and conservation project after concerns were raised over roof leakages and the deteriorating condition of parts of the heritage building.

In a written reply to Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the Centre had taken note of the condition of the museum. He said the Chandigarh Administration had submitted a detailed project report (DPR) on February 5 under the Ministry of Culture’s Museum Grant Scheme.

The government also said no financial assistance had been released by the Centre for the museum during the past five years.

In the meantime, periodic repairs and maintenance are being carried out. The civil wing of the engineering department has started waterproofing work on the building, which is expected to be completed soon.

The proposed project is aimed at upgrading the museum while retaining its heritage character. The building, designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, is a Grade-I heritage structure and forms part of Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016.

The DPR proposes spending more than ₹7.2 crore on air-conditioning and climate-control systems, including round-the-clock power backup. Another ₹1.5 crore has been proposed for conservation of the museum’s collections, while ₹2.36 crore is earmarked for upgrading its conservation laboratory.

About ₹3.55 crore has been proposed for building conservation and ₹2.67 crore for interiors and exhibition displays. Lighting work has been estimated at ₹3.31 crore.

The plan also seeks to bring more digital technology into the museum, including augmented and virtual reality, holographic displays and an audio application. About ₹2.97 crore has been earmarked for these facilities.

The proposal includes ₹1.43 crore for security and CCTV systems and ₹1.22 crore for collection storage, digitisation and cataloguing. Fire safety measures and a 15-passenger lift have also been included.

The museum houses collections of Gandhara sculptures, Pahari, Sikh and Rajasthani miniature paintings, textiles, coins and modern Indian art. Established in 1968, it is part of the Capitol Complex, alongside the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Punjab Civil Secretariat and Assembly building.

Shekhawat said the preservation needs of the museum’s collections and the adequacy of its infrastructure were assessed regularly by the authorities.

The DPR has now been submitted to the Ministry of Culture for appraisal and approval. Funding will be released once the proposal clears the ministry’s approval process.