Flyover not only option to decongest traffic at Tribune Chowk, say experts, architects

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 9

Various experts and architects have suggested that flyover is not the only option at Tribune Chowk to decongest traffic. They made presentation of their models and alternatives before the Finance Secretary and other senior officers today.

Inderjit Ghai, managing director, General Highways And Infracon Private Limited and consultant of the NHAI, Ministry of Road Transport, and GMADA, in the presentation said providing flyover at Tribune Chowk and subsequently at other junctions on Dakshin Marg was not a long-lasting solution. Long-term solution was to divert the traffic via bypass/ring roads which had already been planned by the NHAI, GMADA and the Haryana government.

He said coordination was required between state governments/Central government and local bodies to complete the projects. He said bypass and the ring roads had been stalled at various stages. These could be taken up for execution immediately as all preconstruction activities had been completed.

Structural engineer Tarun Mathur re-emphasised that low-height grade separator has several advantages. He said it was a modern contemporary design. Being signal free, it had no waiting time. Because of no waiting time, the grade separator could handle more vehicles.

Mathur said the Engineering Department had opposed the concept saying the minimum turning speed should be 80 km/hr and it was not possible to drain rainwater from the depressed areas.

Mathur said the objections of the Engineering Department were without merit and doubts could be verified from experts.

Eashan Chaufla, Hamza Javed and Siddhant Sapra also presented their model, which is simply improvement of the Tribune roundabout and the existing traffic light system. They said traffic lights had several flaws, which needed to be improved.

Architects show that just by making minor changes to the existing design of the Tribune roundabout it is possible to bring about major improvements in its functioning. The Administration sought the view of experts on the directions of the High Court. The views will be presented before the High Court in its next hearing.