The three cities will soon experience a transformed transport system to ease the growing traffic congestion.
As per the reports, the first phase of the Tricity metro project will be carried out soon. According to the earlier plan, the distance was decided for 66 km, however, the new plan includes an expansion of 11 km, a total of 77 km long metro line. The project comes under the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS).
Not only the Tricity but Punjab and Haryana as well are ready to welcome this significant change in the transportation. It will not only help in transforming the cities but will also enhance connectivity. Most importantly, it will resolve the growing road traffic problem these cities are witnessing.
This project was introduced back in 2023 and now will finally be executed by the authority. The layout of the phase 1 of the project includes detailed information about the metro line. The two-coach metro will cover most of the area in Chandigarh followed by Mohali and then Panchkula. The revision was done by the Rail India Technical and Economic Services.
In July 2023, authorities of Chandigarh proposed the project under the central government guidelines and gathered all the stakeholders to prepare the AAR (Alignment-cum-Feasibilty Report) and DPR (Detailed Project Report).
It will cover a total of 35 km in Chandigarh, 31 km in Mohali/New Chandigarh, and 11 km in Panchkula. In addition, an extension of 11 km will also be included. This will include a 6 km linking of New Chandigarh to Sarangpur and nearly 5 km of connectivity of Panchkula ISBT to Panchkula Extension in Sector 20.
Although the 11 km extension was a part of phase 2 of the metro project, it is now included in the commenced metro project. This upcoming project will have around 30 stations in the network. It will cover a distance of 39 km, excluding sectors 1 to 30, which hold heritage significance.
The metro network will fall under two phases, covering the Tricity as well as Zirakpur, New Chandigarh, and Pinjore. The first phase, which is expected to be completed between 2027 and 2037 will include key routes like the 29 km of Parol Sarangpur to Panchkula ISBT, 35 km of Rock Garden to Zirakpur ISBT through Industrial Area and Chandigarh airport, and the lastly, 13 km of Grain Market Chowk in Sector 39 to Transport Nagar in Sector 26.
A total of three corridors will be included in the project. The tracks in the first two corridors will be on the ground, with some underground while the third corridor will be fully on the ground.
Phase two of the project will develop after 2037, which will have an addition of four routes. The four routes will be 5 km from Airport Chowk to Manakpur Kallar and 20 km from Zirakpur ISBT to Pinjore ISBT.
Such projects are bound to be expensive. As per the updates, the estimated cost of the project is around 11,000 crore. Haryana and Punjab will get 20% of the expenses each. The Center will also share another 20% of the expanse and the rest 60% will be financed by the lending agency.
