Open house: Should there be a unified development plan for Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula?

Unified plan can bolster growth

The three cities form an excellent combination but being controlled by three different governments, there is a lack of comprehensive growth. A unified development plan can really give a fillip to growth by coming up with joint transportation, security and safety plans. The e-buses of CTU will be able to ply more easily to Mohali and Panchkula and tourists will have easy approach to Chandigarh, while both the adjoining cities will also be able to become safer. It will be a win-win situation for all three cities.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Can help attract more investment

The development of new sectors in Chandigarh's periphery, including areas in Punjab, highlights the need for a unified development plan for tricity. A unified plan would ensure that infrastructure development, such as roads, public transportation, and utilities, is well-coordinated across the region. By working together, the three cities could attract more investments, promote industrial growth, and create job opportunities.

Capt Amar Jeet, Kharar

Will provide integrated infra

With Mohali approving the acquisition of additional land for new sectors, the need for a unified development plan for tricity has become more pressing than ever. It would ensure integrated infrastructure, balanced residential and commercial zoning, efficient public transport and cohesive environmental policies across the three cities. It would also promote equitable distribution of resources. With the tricity evolving into a major economic hub, a coordinated approach is not just desirable but essential for urban harmony.

Wg Cdr JS Minhas (Retd.), Mohali

Form a metropolitan devp authority

Chandigarh, a well-planned city, is already overburdened. Congested roads, flooded parking lots tell tales of rupturing infra in the wake of influx of vehicles visiting city from adjoining cities. Senseless policies such as allowing high risers in developed sectors and acquiring land for extension of cities for revenue urning shall definitely make the life in the city more difficult. The need is for constituting a Chandigarh Metropolitan Authority for unified development.

RP Malhotra, Panchkula

Will assist in timely planning

The decision to add nine new sectors to Mohali will have multi-dimensional impact on tricity. The skyrocketing price of the land in tricity may reduce to give some relief to the house buyers. But the increase in the population in the tricity may have affect on the roads of Chandigarh, parking lots, markets, hospitals and essential services like water and electricity and therefore joint planning can help plan things ahead of time.

Wg Cdr JS Minhas (Retd.), Mohali

Take a page out of NCR’s book

It is pertinent to mention that there is a need for a unified development plan for tricity development on the lines of NCR (National Capital Region) of Delhi. Metro, roads, highway infrastructure are also areas that can be planned better with coordination keeping in view future unified development of the tricity region. Lastly, there is a need to develop an outer ring road for inter movement of traffic, which will also need joint planning.

Col TBS Bedi, Mohali

Need to control haphazard expansion

To foster a unified and well-planned future for the tricity, a stringent, strong and systematic development plan is imperative. Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula must come together under a unified policy framework to curb chaos and control haphazard expansion. A stern and stringent approach - with clear zoning laws, well-laid infrastructure plans, and efficient civic amenities - can harmoniously guide growth across all sectors. To avoid overlapping responsibilities and policy paralysis, a single authority should oversee the entire tricity's development. This will streamline decision-making, maximize resources, and minimise disputes.

Shaurya Bhumbri, Chandigarh

Peripheral areas will benefit

A unified development plan for tricity will enable seamless regional connectivity, particularly with the upcoming Metro project, while preventing duplication of essential utilities such as water supply, power distribution, sewage and waste treatment. It will help curb unplanned urban sprawl in rapidly expanding areas like Zirakpur, New Chandigarh and Panchkula Extension by ensuring a balanced distribution of residential, commercial and industrial zones. This shared planning approach will ease congestion, strengthen civic services, and promote integrated green belts across jurisdictions and peripheral areas will benefit from better infrastructure and services.

Brigadier Advitya Madan, Chandigarh

Address the problem of fragmented growth

A unified development plan for the tricity is imperative. Fragmented growth leads to chaotic traffic, strained resources and environmental degradation across the region. A consolidated vision, overseen by a single planning authority, would ensure integrated public transport, efficient waste management, harmonised land use and preservation of green spaces. It will foster sustainability and enhance quality of life.

Umesh Mani Dixit, Chandigarh

Inter-government coordination needed

Inspired by Los Angeles, a 71 km linear city, Mohali could adopt a similar elongated urban model, extending 30 km from Sukhna Lake. This design enhances administrative efficiency, streamlining water supply, electricity, transport and social services. Punjab and Chandigarh authorities can coordinate to organise study tours for engineers and bureaucrats to explore such systems globally. The Periphery Capital Project aligns with this vision, ensuring civic amenities remain undisrupted by heavy traffic while respecting social needs. Adopting proven urban chain systems will drive sustainable, efficient growth.

Narinder Banwait, Chandigarh

Potential to address govt challenges

In today's rapidly evolving landscape, authorities are constantly seeking ways to improve productivity, reduce complexity and streamline development processes. A unified development plan for the entire tricity region can bridge this gap and enhance development agility. Historically, authorities have faced numerous barriers such as disjointed management tools, complex setup processes and inefficiencies in testing initiatives. As there is no straightforward way to combine the simplicity of these inter-state agencies with the robustness, the introduction of a unified development plan for finance, logistics, resource management and operations can address several longstanding challenges.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

Work towards easing burden on Chandigarh

With the increasing urban development around Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, the burden of traffic increases onto City Beautiful. All the facilities of Chandigarh are reeling under the burden of increasing urbanisation and population in tricity. Chandigarh was planned for 5 lakh people and now tricity is burdened with a population of 15 lakh people. So a unified and coordinated urban planning is needed in tricity to keep this city as the City Beautiful and Smart.

HS Dhanoa, Chandigarh

Joint plan makes financial sense

Chandigarh, once a symbol of planned development, is now bursting at its seams. It is high time a unified development plan is put in place for tricity. Together, their area is comparable to Singapore. A coordinated strategy focusing on tourism, metro connectivity, smooth intercity traffic, health tourism (medicity), film industry development and strong international aviation links can transform this region. It will stabilise property rates and boost employment.

Vijay Katyal, Panchkula

Joint management panel the way to go

Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula are three different towns of different states, but are integrated as one homogenous unit without any demarcation or limits. Infrastructure like roads, water and electric supply, sewage systems have had a hard timing coping up with the speed in which residential and commercial buildings were constructed in the the periphery of Chandigarh by the new towns without any planning. A combined management panel or board of the professional experts of the tricity should be created to monitor and advise the development. Such board should include town planning, security, health, environmental and administrative experts.

Sqn Ldr Manjit Singh Johar (retd), Chandigarh

Will eliminate growth imbalance

Tricity functions as one integrated region, yet they are governed by different authorities with separate plans. This creates duplication, traffic congestion and unbalanced growth. Chandigarh is landlocked and cannot expand, while Mohali and Panchkula have space but lack coordinated planning. A joint regional authority would ensure balanced infrastructure, equitable distribution of resources, and streamlined transport systems. A common vision would support smart urban expansion and sustainable development while reducing inter-agency delays.

Vaishnavi, Zirakpur

Resource usage will be optimised

By establishing a Tricity Development Authority with statutory powers, authorities can ensure better land-use policies, infrastructure and environmental safeguards. Prioritise integrated public transport, create shared economic zones, implement joint water management and waste treatment plants for efficiency. This cohesive vision prevents fragmented sprawl and optimises resources.

Gurdev Singh, Mohali Punjab

Not a feasible plan for tricity

As Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, trio fall under separate govts, a unified development plan will not work. Still, tricity being connected to each other in terms of offices, and residential terms, new developments in terms of industries and residential colonies will definitely help the masses to improve their livelihood and solve housing problems. A boost to urbanization will certainly help the state's economy reach to new heights.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Issue At Hand

B oiling things down to essentials, the problems the tricity is beset with, call for a cohesive and integrated approach by the civic bodies, development authorities and the police of the three cities, backed by the departments of respective governments. They must pool their heads and join hands in finding lasting solutions to the perennial problems. An ideal solution would be to develop the tri-city region as a single unit on the pattern of the national capital region by forming an independent authority, a la the National Capital Region Planning Board. Any takers?

QUESTION for next week

An internal survey conducted by the Municipal Corporation has found at least 60 roads across Chandigarh in “very poor” condition, while 23 roads have been categorised as “poor”. These roads have not been recarpeted for more than five years. Shouldn’t the MC authorities be held accountable and responsible for bad roads?

Suggestions in not more than 150 words with passport size photograph can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com by Thursday (June 26)