Chandigarh: PGIMER-Sarangpur flyover project once again in trouble over conflict with Tricity Metro plan

Chandigarh’s PGIMER-Sarangpur flyover project resumed in September 2023 but has once again run into trouble.

The main reason this time is the Tri-Cities subway A corridor is planned to intersect the proposed flyover route, making it difficult for authorities to make decisions about elevated or underground infrastructure.

Hindustan Times reported that the Tri-City Metro Rail scheme is part of the first phase and has three corridors across Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. Among them, the 32-km stretch between New Chandigarh Parul and Panchkula Sector 28 covers the PGIMER-Sarangpur area and a 1.75-km-long flyover is planned to be constructed in the area.

However, the launch of the flyover project depends on a key decision yet to be taken by the central government – whether the metro infrastructure on the same corridor will be elevated or underground.

The 1.75-km-long flyover, which will include a 1.3-km elevated section, will be proposed in 2020 and is expected to cost around Rs 90 crore.

The planned width of the overpass is about 19.1 meters, and the width of the lane is 17.5 meters.

The four-lane elevated road is designed to facilitate smooth traffic flow from PGIMER to Mullanpur, Sarangpur and Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, solving traffic problems and enhancing connectivity in the region.

The project suffered a setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the UT government resumed the project in September last year and planned to start work in April this year.

UT Engineering even commissioned consultants to draft a feasibility report and conduct geotechnical studies of the project.

Hindustan Times quoted UT chief engineer CB Ojha as saying: “The fate of the flyover depends on whether the metro station and tracks are elevated or underground. So, we have to wait for the metro plan to be finalized.”

The UT government is favoring a completely underground metro network in Chandigarh considering the potential impact of an elevated network on the aesthetic landscape of the city.

As per current plans, about 8 km of the proposed 20 km network in Chandigarh is elevated.

However, opting for an underground corridor is expected to increase the expenditure by nearly Rs 8,000 crore, taking the total project cost to about Rs 19,000 crore.

UT officials are working to compile a detailed report highlighting the need for underground networks that will be submitted to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Affairs for approval.