The Chandigarh tri-city metro project, approved in July 2023, is set to revolutionize urban transportation with its underground routes through heritage sectors. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has endorsed underground metro lines for sectors 1 to 30, based on recommendations from the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee. This approach, focusing on preserving the city’s planned heritage, deviates from the initial proposal by Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), which favored elevated tracks.

An official privy to a recent meeting in Delhi disclosed that the stretch from PGI to Transport Chowk will now be underground. Similarly, the metro line from Sukhna Lake to the Sector 43 bus stand will also be underground to maintain the city’s skyline.

Project Details and Approvals

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the metro, prepared by RITES, is under review. Despite this, the suggested routes have been approved by the governments of Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh. Construction for Phase 1, featuring three routes, is set to begin in 2027 and conclude by 2034, with Phase 2 development starting post-2037.

Phase 1 Routes

Phase 1 routes are designed to be partly overground and partly underground. The elevated sections will be on the outskirts in Punjab and Haryana, while the central grid will have underground stretches to protect green spaces and landmarks.

Route 1

Spanning approximately 32 km from Paroul in New Chandigarh to Sector 28 in Panchkula, this route covers key areas such as Sarangpur, PGI, Panjab University, Madhya Marg, and Chandigarh railway station. The segment from PGI to Transport Chowk will be underground.

Route 2

This 36 km route connects Sukhna Lake to the Zirakpur Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), passing through Mohali ISBT and Chandigarh Airport. The stretch from Sukhna Lake to Sector 43 is designated to be underground.

Route 3

Covering approximately 14 km, this line runs from Grain Market Chowk in Sector 39 to Transport Chowk in Sector 26, covering Vikas Marg and Tribune Chowk. This line will be fully elevated.

Addressing Traffic Congestion

Chandigarh has faced increasing traffic congestion, partly because it hosts the offices and assemblies of both Punjab and Haryana. With 1.3 million registered vehicles as of 2023, the metro aims to reduce road congestion and improve commuter accessibility.

Sreedharan also suggested that a Light Metro System, capable of transporting 20,000 people per hour, would be ideal for Chandigarh’s population, as it would be less disruptive and more suited to the city’s needs.