Explanation: Chandigarh is recognized as the first planned city in India, designed by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. The city was conceived in the aftermath of the partition of India in 1947, when the old city of Lahore, which was the capital of Punjab, became part of Pakistan. The need for a new capital for the state of Punjab led to the creation of Chandigarh, which was planned and designed to embody modernist principles of urban planning and architecture.
Le Corbusier, a prominent architect of the modernist movement, was commissioned to design the city. His vision for Chandigarh was to create a city that would be a symbol of the new India, free from the constraints of traditional urban design. The city was planned with a grid-like structure, featuring wide boulevards, green spaces, and distinct zones for residential, commercial, and administrative purposes. This approach was a significant departure from the organic growth patterns of most Indian cities and represented a new era in urban planning.
The design of Chandigarh included several key features that were innovative for the time. The city was divided into sectors, each with its own amenities and services, ensuring a balanced distribution of resources and services. The Capitol Complex, designed by Le Corbusier, is a notable landmark that showcases his architectural style, featuring iconic buildings such as the Secretariat, the High Court, and the Assembly Hall.
Chandigarh's planning and architecture have had a lasting impact on urban development in India. The city's design principles have influenced the planning of other modern cities in the country and have been studied and emulated in various urban planning projects. The city continues to be a significant example of modernist urban planning and architecture, reflecting the aspirations of post-independence India to create a new, modern identity.
In contrast, other cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kolkata have developed over centuries and were not designed as planned cities in the modernist sense. While these cities have undergone significant development and modernization, they do not fit the criteria of being the first planned city in India, designed by a single architect with a modernist vision. Therefore, Chandigarh stands out as the correct answer in this context.