Paving the way for the metro in the tricity, Chandigarh-Mohali-Panchkula, a comprehensive mobility plan has been given the principal approval during a meeting of representatives of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh governments, on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Manohar Lal Khattar, chief minister of Haryana, Minister Anmol Gagan Mann from Punjab, Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit at the Union Territory Secretariat. UT Advisor Dharam Pal also attended the meeting. Chandigarh Mayor Anup Gupta, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal, along with senior officers from Chandigarh and Punjab were present during the meeting.The discussion of the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) study, which suggested a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) spanning Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula, was on the agenda for the conference. A mobility strategy to ease traffic in the area was described in the study. According to the RITES research, Chandigarhs initial phase of the Metro system would include three corridors. 16 km of the intended 39.2 km total may be underground, with the remaining km being elevated.UT Advisor Dharam Pal suggested that metro would be built in non-heritage sectors, on which administration agreed. Punjab and Haryana were also the part of the discussion as metro will pass through their respective districts of Mohali and Panchkula. The alternate routes for the metro projects were also suggested by stakeholders for smooth and seamless traffic in the tricity, such as Housing Board Chowk to Punjab University and PGIMER to Chandigarh Airport.According to the information, the rail metro project was first proposed for Chandigarh in 2009 and the detailed project report was prepared in 2012 with the cost of Rs 1.5 crore. The surveys were also conducted in year 2013 for the project but in 2014, Member of Parliament Kirron Kher opposed it, stating that the project will uproot the city. Before it was rejected by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2017.Add Metro connectivity to Pinjore-Kalka from Chandigarh, Zirakpur: KhattarHaryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, during the meeting said that metro connectivity to Panchkulas Pinjore-Kalka from Chandigarh and Zirakpur should be made under the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). “Pinjore and Kalka should be connected with Chandigarh under the Metro plan as they are the gateway to Himachal Pradesh and movement of a large number of people takes places towards Panchkula and Chandigarh on a daily basis. This will further strengthen the Panchkula-Chandigarh connectivity, ensuring smooth flow of traffic,” he said.He asserted that these routes should be included in the first phase of the metro. Khattar also proposed the airport connectivity to Panchkula under the plan. Talking about the extension of the plan, he said that area across the Ghaggar River and New Panchkula extension should be considered.The officials of the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), gave the detailed presentation on the mobility plan of the tricity of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. Various proposals to Mass Rapid Transport System was also discussed to tackle the growing traffic congestions in the city.Haryana Chief Minister also suggested other important places like PGIMER, Punjab and Haryana High Court, secretariat, Vidhan Sabha should also be added in the first phase of the metro being proposed. Panchkulas Pinjore-Kalka routes should be included in the first phase.Distance it will coverThe first phase of metro will consist of three corridors in Chandigarh with total length of 44.8 km. Of this, 16 km of the Metro system in the city may be underground and the remaining 28.8 km will be elevated. The first proposed corridor is proposed between Sarangpur and IT Park on Madhya Marg and would cover places such as Khuda Lahora, Panjab University, Sectors 7, 8 and 26 and Housing Board Chowk. Of the total length, 7.3 km would be underground, while the remaining 10.5 km would be elevated.Cost of the projectThe initial cost of the project was estimated at Rs 10,900 crore, including the land cost and taxes. A 37-km Metro track was proposed for the city, while a track length of 7.8 km was planned for Punjab and 6.41 km for Panchkula.
