Archeological Survey of India wants Heritage city tag for Delhi and Chandigarh

The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has submitted a proposal to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to include Delhi and Chandigarh in their upcoming lists of World Heritage cities, said an ASI official.

The ASI, according to a culture ministry release, had submitted two proposals 'Delhi's Imperial Capital Cities' and 'Victorian & Art Deco ensemble, Mumbai' in January this year. The release added that according to UNESCO guidelines, when a proposal for the inclusion in the World Heritage list is submitted, it is initially sent to the Tentative list for consideration. In India, there are 32 world heritage sites. Around Delhi, Humayun's Tomb, the Red Fort Complex and the Qutab Minar and its monuments are identified as World Heritage sites.

Chandigarh has been in the bid for the honour since 2006, but has not been able to make it due to either a no-clearance from the ministry of culture or UNESCO. The report Chandigarh report focused on its capital complex, apart from buildings designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, and Sukhna Lake and Leisure Valley.

The official added that ASI is routinely in consultation to bodies like Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), in preparing the report.