Open House: Will proposed underpasses end snarl-ups in Chandigarh or disturb its original character?

The proposal by the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) is unlikely to solve traffic problems. During monsoon, there is all likelihood of underpasses getting waterlogged. In such a scenario, constructing elevated passes can be considered as a better option. Further, use of public transport should be encouraged to reduce density of vehicles on the city roads.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

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Creating slip roads better solution

Underpasses have created more problems than the help these offered. These underpasses get flooded during rainy season. The medicine is worse than the disease itself. It will be better to make slip roads instead of underpasses as it will partially divert traffic.

Capt Amar Jeet, Kharar

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Proposal okay, just maintain heritage

Construction of underpasses is a good option to reduce traffic congestion in the city. With growing population and a surge in the number of vehicles, it is the need of the hour to come up with a solution to traffic woes. These can be constructed keeping in mind the greenery and heritage of the city.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Traffic jams waste man hours, fuel

Chandigarh’s periphery has been developing at a fast pace for so many years. With commuters travelling in and out of the city, there is too much of traffic congestion on weekdays. During the rush hours, commuters are caught up in traffic jams, resulting in loss of so many man hours and fuel. The proposal to build underpasses at busy places is worth every penny for the smooth flow of the traffic.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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Explore other alternatives first

Underpasses at various chowks will affect the very character of the City Beautiful. Slopes and climbs will disturb the normal flow of traffic. Further, the problem of waterlogging will be difficult to manage. Other means like reducing the area of roundabouts, making bus and auto bays, going for flyover at one or two crossings can be explored.

Jaswant Singh, Chandigarh

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Will prove to be drastic step

It will be a drastic move to build underpasses in the city. How can the authorities ignore the condition of underpasses at Industrial Area, Phase 1, and Nagla and Mubarikpur in Dera Bassi during rainy season before coming up with such a proposal.

Narinder Kumar Sharma, Chandigarh

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An exercise in futility for sure

Underpasses will not only create a major hurdle in the flow of traffic during the period of their construction, but will also rendered useless due to waterlogging during monsoons. Building underpasses will surely be an exercise in futility.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Ensure there’s perfect drainage system

Underpasses will not prove to be a success unless a perfect rainwater drainage system is in place. Such subways at Sector 15 and the Industrial Area become more of a nuisance during rainy season.

Sukhwant Bhullar, Chandigarh

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Project will save commuters’ time, fuel

People have been facing traffic problems in the city for a long time. They wasted their time, fuel and money. Nine proposed underpasses can improve their lives. The project will decrease traffic problems. Vehicle owners can save on fuel and time after completion of the project. Air pollution will also be lesser.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

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Press Centre for starting Metro

Underpasses will be a temporary solution to ease traffic congestion at one intersection. The UT Administration, in coordination with the governments of Punjab and Haryana and tricity MPs, should press the Centre for reviving Metro or a feasible mode of rapid public transport for the tricity.

Col BS Mathauda (retd), Chandigarh

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Encourage carpool, public transport use

Chandigarh is among one of the smartest cities in India. To be the best, a robust public transport system is need of the hour. Commuters face problems due to poor public transport system. Along with underpasses, people must be encouraged to use public transport and go for carpool.

Garv Bhupesh, Panchkula

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Proposal not in line with Master Plan

With a population of over 12 lakh and 15 lakh registered vehicles, Chandigarh has the highest density of vehicles per household in the country, leading to acute traffic problems. In addition to these, over 2 lakh vehicles moving on interstate routes cross the city daily. Though the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031doesn't entirely reject vehicular underpasses, it does strongly advise against them. While recommending more non-motorised vehicles, the Master Plan pushes for Chandigarh to be promoted as a pedestrian and cycle-friendly city.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Proposal fiddles with city’s design

The RITES proposal will not be the right step towards solving the issue of traffic congestion. It will disturb the character of the Le Corbusier’s city. Any other alternative method, which does not fiddles with the City Beautiful's design, should be adopted to solve the traffic problem.

Adish Sood, Amloh

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Reduce, modify office hours

The best solution to ease the traffic is to reduce the office hours both for the state as well as Central employees along with different timings for their respective offices. Also, their weekly offs can be different like Monday and Tuesday for Haryana offices, Wednesday and Thursday for Punjab offices and Friday and Saturday for UT Administration offices.

Savita Kuthiala

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Optimise timings of traffic lights

Building a new underground infrastructure is not a healthy option geologically and should not be adopted as long as there are better substitutes available. Encouraging the use of public transport is a way better decision to deal with the growing traffic. For this, the authorities need to improve bus and rail infrastructure, making them more convenient and cheaper. Optimisation of the timings of the traffic lights can also help reduce traffic.

Manveer Kaur

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Developing Cycling culture holds the key

The city actually needs a robust public transport system along with healthy cycling culture. The city has many cycling enthusiasts but there are no safe parking lots for bicycles at prominent places like Sukhna Lake. The city has introduced ‘smart’ parking for cars and scooters but not for bicycles. Cycle tracks are not maintained and street lights on these designated tracks are missing. The Administration must make infra suitable for residents to start commuting on bicycles.

Sunny Dhaliwal

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Efficient drainage must for underpass

Chandigarh sees traffic congestion at major junctions daily. Nine underpasses proposed by RITES is the only viable option to streamline the flow of vehicular traffic. However, utmost care is required to be taken in proper designing of efficient drainge system of each underpass to prevent waterlogging.

RPS Chopra, Chandigarh

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Recalibrate city's public transport

The proposal to have nine underpasses will fall flat in solving the growing traffic congestion. Instead, it will spoil the original character of the city. The only way forward is to recalibrate the public transport system for a seamless and cost-effective way forward to commute in and around the city.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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No threat to city’s original character

Underpasses will not disturb the city's original character. With the changing conditions, it is the right step to solving the problem of traffic congestion.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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Don’t rob Chandigarh of its beauty

Proposing nine major vehicular underpasses to solve the growing traffic problems is akin to treating symptoms than the affliction. Scarce resources should not get wasted on irreversible projects that become redundant in the near future. The solution lies in curbing the growth in the number of vehicles on roads. Piecemeal attempts will rob the’ beauty’ tag from the original character of the City Beautiful.

Lalit Bhardwaj, Panchkula

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Strengthen public transport

At this point, the best thing to solve the traffic problem and also maintain the city's original character is to immediately strengthen the public transport in the city and increase new means of public transport.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

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Proposal seems attractive

The proposal seems attractive as it will cause minimal damage to the environment and also retain the original character of the city to a large extent.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

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Subways won’t rob city of its character

Traffic has become a big problem in the city. Underpasses or alternative routes are the only way to overcome it. This will not make Chandigarh lose its character. Rather it will make the city more comfortable place to be in.

Anju Mohan, Panchkula

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Time-consuming, costly solution

The recommendation of underpasses is costly and time-consuming. During their construction, there will be chaos on the already congested roads. The existing underpasses at the Industrial Area and Sector 15 get waterlogged during downpour. Proper drainage system will be required for those subways.

Sqn Ldr MS Johar (retd), Chandigarh

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QUESTION

How can rush at government tertiary care hospitals, including PGI and GMCH-32, be managed to ensure proper health care facilities to patients?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]

#monsoon