Face2News/Chandigarh
Advancing towards Chandigarh's Metro-Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Network Expansion, the 3rd meeting of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), was held under the chairmanship of Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, Hon’ble Governor Punjab and Administrator UT Chandigarh to discuss the ‘Alternatives Analysis Report’and ‘Geotechnical InvestigationsReport’for MRTS in Chandigarh tri-city.
Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) is a unified platform to handle overall Mobility issues of tricity and ensure coordination among various stakeholders, institutions and implementation of this mobility plan to improve the traffic situation in the city.
In the meeting, detailed presentation was given on a Metro train network spanning approximately 154.5 Km in two phases for the Chandigarh Tri-city. Under Phase-I, 85.65 Km of route has been proposed in Chandigarh Tri-city with 16.5 Kmof underground route in heritage sectors of Chandigarh. The major topics discussed during the presentation were ridership estimates, geotechnical investigations, alternative analysis,type of MRTS system, depot land requirement etc.
As perthe Alternative Analysis Report prepared by project consultant-RITES, 2 coach Metro has been found as most viable MRT System for Chandigarh tri-city. As per report, work on Phase-I corridor would be completed by 2032 with both over-head and underground network. Detailed deliberation was done on the subject and it was decided that next meeting be held after a month after some necessary further examination has been done in the matter.
Other agendas discussed in the meeting included alternate shorter route to Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport (SBSIAC), Chandigarh and the development of Ring road around the UT of Chandigarh. Both these developments would help reduce the congestion on Chandigarh roads.
A presentation was given on the alternative route to SBSIAC Airport from PurvMarg (Jn-63) reducing the total distance from 11.6 Km to 3.5 km. Punjab Government also informed about another alternate route to Airport being developed by GMADA, which will shorten the route from 11.6 Km to 8.5 Km. Haryana Government had put up a proposal to examine feasibility of using Old Airport Terminal route for providing easy connectivity to passengers coming from Panchkula and Himachal Pradesh.
A presentation was given on the alternative route to SBSIAC Airport from PurvMarg (Jn-63) reducing the total distance from 11.6 Km to 3.5 km. Punjab Government also informed about another alternate route to Airport being developed by GMADA, which will shorten the route from 11.6 Km to 8.5 Km. Haryana Government had put up a proposal to examine feasibility of using Old Airport Terminal route for providing easy connectivity to passengers coming from Panchkula and Himachal Pradesh.
With the development of towns of Mohali, Zirakpur and Panchkula around UT Chandigarh, the traffic intensity has increased manyfold in the tri-city. Derabassi, Kharar, Morinda, New Chandigarh and Pinjore towns have also developed as suburbs to the tri-city. To decongest the same, the development of ring road around Chandigarh tri-city area, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has prepared a plan and a detailed presentation regarding the same was given in the meeting today. NHAI officials also informed about the current status of development of Zirakpur – Panchkula by-pass to decongest traffic coming from Delhi and going towards Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Secretaries of States of Punjab and Haryana, gave important inputs in the matter and assured of full cooperation by both States. The officials from Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) and Air Force Station, Chandigarh also shared necessary insights and inputs in the matter.
Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, Hon’ble Governor and Administrator UT Chandigarh appreciated the positive feedback and valuable suggestions given by different stakeholders that would benefit the residents of Chandigarh tri-city and resolve the existing traffic related issues of the UT Chandigarh and the neighbouring areas of Punjab and Haryana.
He further asked to examine the financial/economic viability for similar sized cities where Metro has been made operationalisedfor better planning of Metro at Chandigarh tri-city.
Sh. TVSN Parsad, Chief Secretary Haryana, Sh. Rajeev Verma, Adviser to the Administrator UT Chandigarh, Sh. AnuragVerma, Chief Secretary Punjab, Sh. Chandra ShekharKhare, Chief Administrator, HVSPN, Sh. VinayPartap Singh, Secretary Urban Planning & Transport, Ms SonakshiSingh Tomar, CEO BaddiBarotiwalaNalagarhDevelopment Authority representing Himachal Government, Sh. Moneesh Kumar, Chief Administrator, GMADA and other officers of Chandigarh Administration, Haryana, Punjab, NHAI, Airforce, Airport Authority and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) were present in the meeting.