Chandigarh, April 29: Six years after approval and decades after the idea was first floated, the UT administration is finally moving forward with the next phase of construction at the Beant Singh Memorial Centre in Sector 42, Chandigarh.
The auditorium block and convention centre—two major components of the long-delayed memorial project—will now see construction begin within the next two months, officials confirmed following a review meeting chaired by Chandigarh Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma on Monday.
During the meeting, the urban planning department presented updated architectural drawings for the upcoming structure.
“The project has been on hold for too long. We are now in a position to proceed,” said a senior official familiar with the development.
Built in memory of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995, the memorial was first proposed in the late 1990s.
While initial construction began in 1999, the project soon stalled amid funding issues and shifting priorities.
In 2019, the UT administration approved an ambitious plan to develop the centre along the lines of the India International Centre in New Delhi.
The blueprint included nine components, of which only four have been completed so far: a library, a memorial structure, an open-air theatre, and a cafeteria.
The library also includes a multipurpose hall, conference room, and exhibition gallery.
Still pending are the auditorium block, convention centre, a Sarv Dharm Repository (Interfaith Repository), an exhibition-cum-multipurpose building, and a guest house.
The financial burden of completing the remaining phases will be jointly borne by Punjab and Chandigarh.
While the initial estimate in 2022 was ₹40 crore, delays over the past two-and-a-half years have pushed the projected cost up to ₹50 crore. Chandigarh has already contributed ₹12 crore, and the Punjab government has released ₹10 crore.
“Some cost escalation was inevitable,” said an official from the engineering department. “The important thing is that we’re now back on track.”
In December 2022, then Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit had inspected the site and reviewed progress.
His visit reignited interest in completing the project, which has been seen as both a cultural hub and a tribute to the late leader.
Officials say once completed, the convention centre and auditorium will position the memorial as a prominent civic space for intellectual and cultural activity in the city.
