Rs 1.9 crore spent on new signboards in Panchkula, but many obscured by trees

Even as the Municipal Corporation (MC) Panchkula undertakes a Rs 1.96-crore project to install 60 modern retro-reflective blue gantries across the city, questions are being raised about their actual visibility.

Several of the newly installed structures are already obscured by tree branches and foliage, raising concerns that the investment may not deliver its intended benefit of improving navigation and road safety.

The project, awarded to M/s Vibgyor Industries and expected to be completed by the end of September, is intended to replace the older green signages with standardised blue boards in line with Indian Road Congress (IRC) norms.

Officials claim the signages will particularly help outsiders navigate Panchkula’s roundabouts and arterial roads more easily, mirroring Chandigarh’s earlier transition to blue boards.

However, commuters say the problem lies not with the boards themselves but with poor planning and maintenance.

“What use are new reflective gantries if they are hidden behind tree branches? At night or during rain, visibility is even worse,” said Sanjay Sharma, a daily commuter from the city who works in Chandigarh.

Residents deem exercise ‘cosmetic’

Residents also point out that several older boards, installed around 2010–11, were similarly obscured and were never repositioned. Instead of addressing visibility issues, the corporation has rolled out a fresh round of replacements. “It feels like cosmetic work without ground reality checks,” commented a shopkeeper near Sector 11 market.

Experts emphasise that while IRC norms specify reflective sheeting and standard dimensions, ensuring clear sight lines is equally crucial. Without systematic pruning and regular audits of signages, even the most modern boards risk becoming ineffective.