While the Punjab and Haryana High Court has virtually put brakes on contentious Tribune flyover by putting stay on axing of trees for the project, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has recommended the UT Administration to expedite the project, aimed at better traffic management in and around the city.
In its report tabled in Rajya Sabha recently, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has acknowledged the fact that the case is sub-judice but at the same time, recommended that all projects including Tribune Flyover for better traffic management must be completed expeditiously.
The High Court had in November last year stayed the transplanting and axing of 473 trees for the Tribune flyover project, on an NGO’s plea and asked the Administration to look for other solutions to the congestion problem at the Tribune Chowk.
Since then, uncertainty looms over the future of this project. The Administration will now be submitting a report regarding the public hearing held on the proposed project and other alternatives explored for the congestion problem at the Tribune Chowk to the High Court, which is scheduled to hear the case this month.
The controversial project has remained under fire since its inception as many experts have termed it a violation of Chandigarh Master Plan
2031. According to the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031, over bridges or flyovers are not recommended to be constructed in entire city of Chandigarh due to heritage considerations, since they impact the visual city scape, and cause inconvenience to the pedestrians.
Making observations on the project, the report of Parliamentary Standing Committee stated, “The Committee is aware that the matter of Zirakpur-Tribune Road is sub-judice. The Committee reiterates its recommendation given in previous report on demand for grants (2018-19) which stated the flyover project be undertaken with NHAI funds for early completion for improving traffic in and around Chandigarh,.”
“The Committee was given to understand that the UT Administration, in coordination with NHAI, is working on this project from Zirakpur to Tribune Chowk (flyover) road section for better traffic management. It recommends that all projects undertaken must be completed expeditiously,” the report stated.
Following the HC’s directions, the Administration had held public hearing on December 23 last year, in which 53 of the 78 participants had opposed the flyover. Seven persons were even called for detailed deliberations on alternative proposals mooted by them.
However, the Administration had recently rejected all the seven shortlisted alternative proposals to the Tribune flyover.
Notably, the UT Technical Committee constituted to explore alternatives to the project, had recently recommended Administration to again seek Union Ministry’s opinion on the project.
However, the Administration has decided to take up the matter in the meeting of UT Administrator’s Advisory Council, constituted to advise the higher authorities on developmental issues and policy matters.
Contentious flyover project
The 1.6 km flyover is proposed to be built from near the GMCH-32 roundabout up to the railway overbridge on Dakshin Marg after passing over Tribune Chowk. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore had laid the foundation stone of the Rs 184 crore project in March last year. It was proposed as a solution to the traffic congestion at the stretch of Tribune Chowk. More than 1.43 lakh vehicles cross the rotaries of Dakshin Marg and Purva Marg near Sector-31 Tribune Chowk daily.
Regarding the progress of the flyover at Tribune Chowk, the Administration submitted to the Parliamentary Committee that the work has been approved by the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in letter dated February 11, 2019 amounting to Rs 183.74 crore.
Accordingly, the bids for the work were invited by the UT Engineering Department. Subsequently, the letter of acceptance was issued to the lowest agency M/s DRAIPL-DMR Builders (JV) amounting to Rs 137.40 crores. Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the cutting of trees and the matter is sub-judice.