Chandigarh: Panel clears decks for elevated road on PGI-Sarangpur route
A congestion-free PGIMER to Sarangpur stretch will soon become a reality as the Appraisal Committee has recommended the construction of an elevated road at Khuda Jassu and Khuda Lahora at an estimated cost of Rs 89.13 crore.
During a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad, the committee recommended three key infrastructure projects estimated to cost Rs 176.34 crore. Besides the elevated road, other projects that have been recommended for administrative and financial sanctions are a 50-bedded critical care hospital at Manimajra at the cost of Rs 73.89 crore and the development of City Forest at the Sukhna Choe Reserve Forest at an estimated cost of Rs 13.32 crore.
The meeting was convened to consider proposals submitted by the UT Engineering Department for strengthening Chandigarh’s road and healthcare infrastructure and enhancing its environmental and recreational assets.
Elevated road project
The proposed 1,280-metre-long, four-lane elevated road is expected to improve connectivity and provide uninterrupted, grade-separated traffic movement. The project includes RCC and precast construction technology, reinforced earth wall and solid-fill approaches, crash barriers, drainage, street lighting and other road safety measures. The corridor is also expected to reduce travel time, fuel consumption and vehicular emissions.
Critical care hospital
The proposed hospital, which will be built under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure (PM-ABHIM), will augment critical care and emergency healthcare services in Manimajra. It will include a 16-bed ICU/HDU, 28-bed isolation ward and an eight-bedded Emergency and Triage Unit, along with facilities for cardiac care, MRI, CT Scan, X-Ray, maternity and newborn care, dialysis and medical gas pipeline and liquid medical oxygen systems.
The project will also provide a modular operation theatre, basement parking for 96 cars, HVAC and mechanical basement ventilation, firefighting and fire alarm systems, CCTV surveillance and access control.
City Forest project
The proposed City Forest will focus on the planned and eco-sensitive development of the reclaimed and restored forest area while retaining its conservation character.
The project will include nature interpretation and learning facilities, an auditorium and open-air theatre, nature trails, walkways, cycle tracks, elevated trails, viewing platforms, rain shelters, gazebos, meditation huts, observation decks and bird-watching facilities. Other proposed facilities include a fire watch tower, bamboo bridges and canopies.
The Chief Secretary directed the departments concerned to expedite all necessary procedural formalities so that the projects could be taken up at the earliest and completed within the stipulated timeframe.
