City all set to get its first flyover

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 26

Chandigarh’s first flyover project at the Tribune roundabout is going to become a reality as Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore has given administrative approval for the project.

Sources said with the approval, the Administration would soon send its recommendation, along with the report of the consultant, to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of the Transport to take the project to the next stage. The NHAI will provide the funds for the project and the work will also be implemented by it. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the project during his visit to the city in 2016 after the demand was raised by local Member of Parliament (MP) Kirron Kher. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways gave nod to the Administration to engage the consultant for the preparation of the detailed project report. The Administration has engaged the consultant for Rs 1.85-crore fees after five failed attempts.

The Mumbai-based consultant, Stup Constructions, has made the presentation before the high-level committee of the Administration recently in which various issues related to the project were discussed. After discussion, the Administration gave its nod for the project. As per the initial report of the consultant, the flyover project at Tribune Chowk is likely to cost around Rs 1,600 crore.

Sources said the consultant had prepared the initial report of the project after a three-month survey. The consultant has suggested two levels of the flyover connecting Chandigarh with the Zirakpur flyover. An elevated road has also been proposed from Chandigarh to Zirakpur.

Sources said the issue of the objection of the Department of the Urban Planning had also discussed in the meeting and it was found that the Tribune flyover was coming up on the national highway and it was not going to affect the heritage value of the city.

The Department has raised the objection as overbridge and flyover are not recommended to be constructed in the entire city of Chandigarh due to heritage consideration. Tribune Chowk is an important junction that falls on the national highway and thousands of vehicles are passing through the roundabout every day.