Snapshot

The Chandigarh administration has joined hands with the governments of Haryana and Punjab to advance the metro rail project in the Tricity area, which includes Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. The project, estimated to cost over Rs 10,570 crore, will not only involve the construction of metro lines but also include bus terminals, depots, and improvements at busy intersections.

Collaboration for the Metro Rail Project

In a meeting chaired by the union territory adviser Dharam Pal, the Chandigarh administration, along with representatives from Punjab and Haryana, decided to involve all stakeholders in the preparation of the alternative analysis report (AAR) and detailed project report (DPR) for the metro rail project. The comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) for the Tricity, encompassing Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula, is underway, following the approval granted by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in June.

The Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) has already developed a CMP for the Tricity area, incorporating the approved metro project and bus corridors that span the region. During a presentation, RITES shared the guidelines, procedures, and policies aligned with the metro rail policy issued by the MoHUA for planning the mass rapid transit system (MRTS).

The meeting concluded with the decision to prepare the AAR and DPR, which, upon approval by the Unified Metro Transportation Authority (UMTA) or respective state governments, will be submitted for further approval to the central government. The AAR will identify the most suitable mode of transportation, whether it be metro, Metrolite, or MetroNeo, to meet the transportation demands on major travel corridors. The DPR, prepared for approval by the Government of India, will include cost estimates, financials, design, institutional arrangements, and the implementation plan for the recommended MRTS mode.

The Tricity Metro Proposal

After more than a decade, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab have given their in-principle approval for the Tricity metro project. The project is expected to cost over Rs 10,570 crore and will encompass the development of metro lines, bus terminals, depots, and intersection improvements. The final metro network will cover Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Zirakpur, New Chandigarh, and Pinjore, and will be implemented in two phases.

In the first phase, which is scheduled to be developed between 2027 and 2037, the MRTS will connect Sarangpur to Panchkula Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), Rock Garden to Zirakpur ISBT via Mohali Industrial Area and the airport, as well as Grain Market Chowk, sector-39, to Transport Nagar, sector-26.

The second phase, planned for development after 2037, will encompass four routes: Panchkula ISBT to Panchkula Extension; Paraul, New Chandigarh to Sarangpur; Airport Chowk to Manakpur Kallar; and Zirakpur ISBT to Pinjore ISBT.