Panchkula to replace old sign boards with blue retro-reflective design

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has rolled out the installation of modern retro-reflective sign boards across the city. It will replace the older green signages with standardised blue boards.

Officials confirmed that the project, costing Rs 1.96 crore, will cover around 60 locations and is expected to be completed by the end of September. The project aims to enhance traffic safety, wayfinding and uniformity in signages across tricity.

Parmod Kumar, XEN–I (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical & Horticulture) and DTP-I, said the initiative was being carried out in accordance with Indian Road Congress (IRC) norms and will cover the entire urban region. The new boards, already installed at the Sector 10-11-14-15 roundabout and select areas, are designed to guide commuters effectively—particularly outsiders unfamiliar with the city. The tender to install the signs has been assigned to M/s Vibgyor Industries.

Officials added that the boards will be positioned on all four sides of major roundabouts and along dividers, helping motorists navigate seamlessly towards their destinations.

The makeover will cover the entire urban region of Panchkula, where the existing green boards will be replaced with standardised blue-coloured signages—already

in place in Chandigarh. The last such replacement was carried out by Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) around 2010–11, following then IRC guidelines introduced around 2007.

Indian Road Congress Norms for Gantries

The Indian Road Congress (IRC) is India’s apex professional body that formulates standards for roads, bridges and traffic systems. Its guidelines are vital for ensuring consistency and safety in infrastructure development across the country.

According to IRC, the boards are particularly important on high-speed roads and busy corridors. The structures must adhere to specifications on reflective sheeting for visibility at night, standardised dimensions and robust structural design. By enforcing such norms, the IRC ensures that road users experience uniform, reliable and easily understandable signage nationwide, making travel safer and navigation simpler.