Panchkula to have metro connectivity, says Manohar Lal Khattar

Panchkula, March 7

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said Panchkula would soon be connected by a metro rail network. Addressing a state-level function at the Indradhanush Auditorium, he said residents of Panchkula would soon be able to avail of the services of metro rail in the city, adding that the project is underway in the Tricity area, which aims to connect Panchkula, Chandigarh, and Mohali.

At the event, the CM laid the foundation stones and inaugurated numerous state development projects. He said eight similar programmes have been organised so far, and the state government has launched 1,612 projects worth a total of Rs 17,203 crore.

He said the country’s growth rate had increased from 5.5 per cent to 6.7 per cent during the current regime. “Haryana’s growth rate stands at 8 per cent which is indicative of the remarkable progress the state has made under the current government.”

He also said many colleges have been established in the state with the aim of ensuring convenient access to education for girls. “Our government recently announced the establishment of medical colleges in each district of the state. Most districts already have medical colleges, and the land acquisition for colleges in the remaining districts is also being finalised,” said CM Khattar.

Khattar said the state’s development has attracted investors from the country as well as abroad. He said that all the districts in Haryana have been connected to the National Highway, adding that PM Modi is set to inaugurate the Dwarka Expressway which is valued at approximately Rs 7,000 crore, on March 11.

Tricity metro project

On the advice of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, all stakeholders — Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana — agreed to have a two-coach metro system in the Tricity. In principle, all stakeholders also agreed to the suggested modifications made by RITES, which included alignment near the railway station along the proposed Metro corridor one and connectivity of Zirakpur to Panchkula via the proposed Metro corridor two.

The study for the preparation of an alternative analysis report and a detailed project report for phase one of the MRTS network of Tricity was allotted to RITES Ltd.

The corridors in the first phase include routes from Paroul (New Chandigarh) to Sector 28, Panchkula — 32.20 km with 26 stations; from Sukhna Lake to ISBT Zirakpur via Airport — 36.4 km with 29 stations; and from Sector 39 to Transport Light Chowk via Tribune Chowk — 13.8 km.