Chandigarh, Dec 12: The planned expansion of the Punjab and Haryana High Court complex faces a narrow deadline to secure UNESCO approval, with officials warning that the proposal must be submitted by the end of December to allow construction next year.
A senior officer said the existing high court campus, part of the Capitol Complex and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, cannot undergo major additions without clearance from the cultural body. “We’re working within a very tight window. UNESCO approval is essential, and any delay will push the project further,” the officer said.
The proposal includes four new blocks, an estimated 30–35 additional courtrooms, and expanded parking on more than 22 lakh square feet of combined space behind the heritage building.
Officials said this time pressure was central to the high court’s view that “special circumstances” justified selecting a consultant through single-source selection instead of a tender. The Bar Association had argued that a full tendering process would slow the project and affect next year’s construction schedule.
