Months after flood damage, UT fixes railings on Sukhna Choe stretch

The UT Engineering Department has started installing railings along the causeway on Sukhna Choe near Bapu Dham Colony in Sector 26.

Residents and commuters had been demanding the installation of railings that were washed away when the Sukhna Lake floodgates were opened during heavy rainfall this year. Calling it a serious public safety issue, they said the failure to reinstall the railings for months had left the entire stretch open and dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists and commuters.

They added that the situation would become even riskier in winter due to dense fog and low visibility. In the absence of railings, the chances of slipping or veering off the edge would increase significantly.

To ensure smooth vehicular movement even during the opening of the Sukhna Lake floodgates, the Engineering Department has planned a four-lane bridge across the Sukhna Choe. The new elevated bridge will replace the existing low-level causeway that connects Sector 26 with Sector 13 (Manimajra), IT Park and Mansa Devi Complex (MDC) in Panchkula.

The construction of the bridge is expected to ease traffic congestion during morning and evening hours, as most commuters from MDC, Manimajra and Panchkula use this route to reach the Haryana Secretariat, Punjab and Haryana High Court and other places. The stretch witnesses heavy traffic during peak hours.

During monsoon, the causeway has to be closed after the release of water from the lake. The closure leads to long traffic jams on Madhya Marg. The proposed four-lane bridge will be constructed at a higher level to prevent such disruptions when excessive water is released from the lake.

The proposed bridge will also include a pedestrian path and a dedicated cycling track, in line with the administration’s push for non-motorised transport.

Officials said the project was crucial to maintaining uninterrupted connectivity between Chandigarh and IT Park, Sector 13, Kishangarh and MDC during the rainy season. They added that the existing bridge near Bapu Dham was too low and had to be closed whenever water was released from the lake.