Chandigarh Metro plan casts uncertainty over PGI-Sarangpur flyover project

The PGIMER-Sarangpur flyover project, initially revived in September last year, is facing a new setback due to the proposed Metro corridor in the same route. The 32-km Metro corridor, a part of Phase 1 in the tricity Metro plan, includes the PGIMER-Sarangpur stretch where a 1.75 km flyover was planned.

Work on the flyover, estimated to cost around ₹90 crore, is on hold as the central government is yet to decide whether the Metro infrastructure for this corridor will be elevated or underground. The uncertainty surrounding the Metro plan has created a roadblock, preventing the commencement of the flyover project.

Flyover aims to ease traffic woes and enhance connectivity

The proposed four-lane elevated road, stretching from PGIMER to the Botanical Garden in Sarangpur, aims to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance connectivity to areas like Mullanpur, Sarangpur, and Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. The project, temporarily shelved during the Covid-19 pandemic, was reinitiated in September last year, with plans to begin work in April this year.

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UT Chief Engineer CB Ojha highlighted that the fate of the flyover hinges on the decision regarding the Metro stations and tracks – whether they will be elevated or underground. The UT administration is currently advocating for a fully underground Metro network in Chandigarh, taking into account the impact of an elevated network on the city's aesthetic landscape.

Concerns over elevated vs. underground corridors

As part of the current plan, around 8 km of the proposed 20 km Metro network in Chandigarh is elevated. However, the UT officials are considering fully underground corridors, which could significantly increase the project cost by nearly ₹8,000 crore, bringing the total estimated expenditure to around ₹19,000 crore. The UT administration is working on a detailed report outlining the need for an underground network, which will be submitted to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for approval. The decision on the Metro infrastructure will play a pivotal role in determining the future of the PGIMER-Sarangpur flyover.

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