Chandigarh Tricity Metro project to be extended by 6.15 km

July 22, 2024: The proposed underground network of the Chandigarh Metro project, which was earlier limited to the northern sectors and core heritage grade-1 areas, will now be extended to southern areas of the city, according to a TimesNow report. The recommendation was made by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in a letter to various project stakeholders. Earlier, the MoHUA had approved the construction of metro lines underground in heritage sectors (1 to 30) to preserve the city’s historical significance.

Further, the Tricity Metro project was initially planned to cover 79.5 kilometre (km), but now the metro network will be extended to 85.65 km with the addition of 6.15 km, as per a TOI report. The length has been extended along two routes – from the Zirakpur bus stand to Panchkula and from Sukhna Lake to Sector 43.

The detailed Alternative Analysis Report (AAR) report of Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) also comprises the detailed geotechnical report of the project, which specifies the locations of depots in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. The location of the depot in Panchkula has been changed. Earlier, the depot was planned at the entrance of Panchkula, but it has now been moved to Ghaggar. The depot of Mohali district has been planned in Paroul in New Chandigarh, while the one in Chandigarh has been planned near the grain market of Sector 39. These details will soon be presented to the administrative authorities of the Tricity.

An extension of around 3.50 kilometres has been made on the route from the Zirakpur bus stand, Sector 20, while an extension of around 2.5 km has been made on the routes from Sukhna Lake to the Sector 43-based Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT). After extensions on both routes, Chandigarh will have 40.235 km of routes in its jurisdiction within the city, while the area of Mohali district, including Mohali and New Chandigarh, will have 31.750 km. Further, the route in the area of the Panchkula district of Haryana will be 13.665 km, as mentioned in the report.