The Chandigarh Administration has given its in-principle approval for the comprehensive mobility plan, paving the way for a Metro Rail Project in the tricity area, which comprises Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. The approval was granted during a meeting of representatives of the Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh governments held on Thursday.
The meeting was chaired by the Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit at the Union Territory Secretariat in Sector 9. The representatives of the respective governments were present, with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar representing Haryana and Minister Anmol Gagan Maan representing Punjab. UT Adviser Dharam Pal was also present in the meeting.
During the meeting, the agenda related to the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) report was thoroughly discussed, which proposed a mass rapid transit system (MRTS) spread across Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. The report outlines a mobility plan to decongest traffic in the tri-city area.
According to the RITES report, the first phase of the Metro system would consist of three corridors in Chandigarh, with a proposed total length of 39.2 km. Of this, 16 km may be underground, while the remaining portion will be elevated.
Adviser to the UT Administration, Dharam Pal, stated that the proposed Metro would be built in non-heritage sectors, and the administration was comfortable with the idea. Punjab and Haryana were brought into the discussion as the proposed Metro would also pass through their respective districts of Mohali and Panchkula.
Stakeholders suggested alternate routes for the Metro project during the meeting for seamless traffic management in the tricity, such as Housing Board Chowk to Panjab University, PGIMER, and Chandigarh International Airport.
The approval of the comprehensive mobility plan by the Chandigarh Administration is a significant step towards the Metro Rail Project, which will help decongest traffic in the city and provide a much-needed boost to public transportation.
The project will also improve connectivity between Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula, making it easier for people to travel between the three cities.