Chandigarh Administration presses for Sarangpur as site for new High Court complex

The Chandigarh Administration has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that a four-lane flyover between the PGIMER and Sarangpur — passing through Khuda Lahora village — has been found feasible and is now part of its approved work plan for the financial year 2025–2026. It also strongly pitched Sarangpur as the more appropriate location for the proposed new High Court complex.

The submissions came in a status report filed before the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu by way of an affidavit by the UT Superintending Engineer and read out in the court by UT’s senior standing counsel Amit Jhanji.

The affidavit said the flyover project had been prepared by a consultant engaged by the Engineering Department, and had been cleared by the Sub-Committee of the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC) in its meeting on July 22.

“The proposal is feasible as it lies beyond the Sectoral grid and will not have any adverse effect on the urban character of the city,” the affidavit stated. It added that the UT Administration would move to prepare cost estimates, invite tenders, award the work and commence construction after receiving drawings and planning clearance from the Chief Architect, Department of Urban Planning. The project was likely to begin within the current financial year and expected to take approximately 12 to 16 months from the date of commencement, it stated.

The affidavit made it clear that the proposed flyover was expected to play a key role in addressing one of the biggest infrastructural bottlenecks impeding access to the upcoming High Court building, which the Administration proposes to construct in the Sarangpur Institutional Area.

The affidavit emphasised: “It would be more appropriate to plan the new High Court complex in Sarangpur, which is an institutional area with compatible land use, higher FAR and good connectivity by a 200-foot-wide road along with a proposed elevated road.”

The UT Administration added that 15 acres had already been earmarked for the High Court in Sarangpur, with a proposal to allot an additional 33.65 acres.

“The total permissible covered area will be approximately 42,38,388 sq ft as against the projected requirement of 31,71,000 sq ft, which will offer more flexibility in planning and design of the new High Court complex and for its future requirements,” it read.

The area would be sufficient to meet the High Court’s projected requirement over the next 50 years, including a provision for 140 courtrooms.

The affidavit added that the flyover, once completed, would create two levels of traffic movement, expected to significantly decongest the corridor from the PGIMER to Sarangpur — a stretch currently prone to snarls and delays.