E. Sreedharan, the architect of the Delhi metro, when contacted by the Express, also supported the underground routes to maintain Chandigarh’s heritage. “The main sectors should not be spoiled by overhead structures,” he said.
Chandigarh’s tri-city metro project, approved in July 2023, is poised to transform urban transportation with underground routes through heritage sectors. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has endorsed running the metro lines underground in sectors 1 to 30, following recommendations from the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee. This decision, emphasizing the preservation of the city’s planned heritage, contrasts with the initial proposal by Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) for predominantly elevated tracks.
An officer privy to the meeting held in Delhi last fortnight said the stretch from PGI to Transport Chowk will now be underground. Similarly, the metro line from Sukhna Lake to the Sector 43 bus stand will also run underground. This has been done to preserve the skyline of the city.
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the metro, prepared by RITES, is currently under review. Despite this, the suggested routes have received approval from the governments of Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh.
Construction for Phase 1, featuring three routes, is slated to begin in 2027 and end by 2034, with Phase 2 development starting post-2037.
E. Sreedharan, the architect of the Delhi metro, when contacted by the Express, also supported the underground routes to maintain Chandigarh’s heritage. “The main sectors should not be spoiled by overhead structures,” he said.
Phase 1 routes are designed to be partly overground and partly underground, with the elevated sections situated on the outskirts in Punjab and Haryana, and underground stretches within the central grid to preserve green spaces and landmarks.
Route 1: From Paroul in New Chandigarh to Sector 28 in Panchkula, spanning approximately 32 km. Key areas covered include Sarangpur, PGI, Panjab University, Madhya Marg, and Chandigarh railway station, with the PGI to Transport Chowk segment planned underground.
Route 2: Extending around 36 km, connecting Sukhna Lake to Zirakpur Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), passing through Mohali ISBT and Chandigarh Airport. The stretch from Sukhna Lake to Sector 43 is designated to be underground.
Route 3: Approximately 14 km long, running from Grain Market Chowk in Sector 39 to Transport Chowk in Sector 26, covering Vikas Marg and Tribune Chowk. This line will be fully elevated.
Chandigarh has experienced increasing traffic congestion, partly because it houses the offices and assemblies of both Punjab and Haryana. With 1.3 million registered vehicles as of 2023, the metro aims to alleviate road congestion and improve commuter accessibility.
Sreedharan also suggested that a Light Metro System, capable of transporting 20,000 people per hour, would be ideal for Chandigarh’s population, as it would be less disruptive and more suited to the city’s needs.
- Route 1: From PGI to Transport Chowk
- Route 2: From Sukhna Lake to Sector 43
- Route 1: From Paroul, New Chandigarh to PGIRoute 1: From Transport Chowk to Sector 28, Panchkula
- Route 2: From Sector 43 to ISBT Zirakpur via Mohali ISBT and Chandigarh Airport
- Route 3: From Grain Market Chowk to Transport Chowk