No mention of underpass in detailed project report

CHANDIGARH: A detailed project report (DPR), submitted by a Mumbai-based STUP consultant, on feasibility study and planning for reducing traffic congestion from Tribune Chowk to UT’s boundary on the Ambala road and providing signal-free corridor was silent on the underpass option.

An aerial view of Tribune Chowk. FILE PHOTO

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 8

A detailed project report (DPR), submitted by a Mumbai-based STUP consultant, on feasibility study and planning for reducing traffic congestion from Tribune Chowk to UT’s boundary on the Ambala road and providing signal-free corridor was silent on the underpass option.

While several other traffic studies conducted to decongest the city recommended an underpass at the intersections as one of the options, the DPR has raised experts’ eyebrows.

Sources said in the DPR, which was submitted in 2018, the consultant recommended seven options to reduce the traffic congestion, but it did not mention an underpass at any of the roundabouts.

The consultant was assigned the task to recommend appropriate measures to decongest traffic at the stretch. The report also consists of the traffic data of four chowks (roundabouts) on the national highway.

The consultant recommended seven options — elevated corridor on Dakshin Marg, flyover on Dakshin Marg and an underpass on Purav Marg, elevated rotary on Tribune Chowk, grade widening, elevated corridor on Dakshin Marg plus elevated rotary on the Tribune Chowk, elevated rotary on the Tribune Chowk and flyover after junction 38 and elevated rotary on Tribune Chowk and flyover after railway underbridge (RUB).

Sources said the Administration rejected other six options and selected the option of a flyover at Tribune Chowk. Even the option for grade widening was also rejected. RITES Ltd, in a study conducted in 2009, had suggested construction of an underpasses at a majority of the intersections, including Tribune Chowk, to retain the glory of Chandigarh. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the project during his visit to the city in 2016 after the demand was raised by MP Kirron Kher.

Later, the administration selected the Mumbai-based firm to prepare the DPR.

Surinder Bahga, an architect, said what was the need for preparing the DPR when there were several other roads and roundabouts that face more traffic jams than this stretch? He said: “Instead of conducting the survey in piecemeal, there is need for a proper study of the city before starting the flyover project.”