Rather than solving traffic issues, flyover at Tribune Chowk will set wrong precedent

Should UT explore other options instead of going for the flyover at Tribune chowk?

Cutting trees is criminal activity

It’s disgusting to know that the UT Administration is planning to axe around 700 trees on Dakshin Marg and Purv Marg for starting construction of the city’s first flyover at the Tribune Chowk. Cutting of old and well maintained trees is a criminal activity . Flyover will destroy originality, beauty, aesthetics and environmental values of the City Beautiful. The Administration should widen roads (wherever possible) and go for mono rail or underground Metro instead of constructing flyover.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Seriously review the flyover project

The heritage of the City Beautiful is in danger. The Administration fails to note the fact that the city’s master plan is sacrosanct and should not be violated at any cost. The flyover project is detrimental to GMCH-32 silence zone norms. The Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) undertaken by French firm in 2018 suggested a combination of light rail transit (LRT), the bus rapid transit system (BRTS), modern tram and monorail, but never recommended any flyover. The UT needs to seriously review the entire Tribune flyover project.

Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur

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Deploy more cops at Tribune chowk

Chandigarh is one of the cities know for its green belt. Instead of axing 700 trees the UT Administration could opt for other plans to streamline traffic on the tribune and Zirakpur stretch. More policemen could be deployed on the stretch to ease traffic congestion on the Tribune Chowk. CCTVs are another alternative for implementing traffic rules.

Charvi Tyagi, Chandigarh

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Political one-upmanship is the root cause

Taking into account residents concern about protecting the legacy of the ace designer of the City Beautiful and its ecological ambience the UT Administration appointed an expert committee to suggest alternatives to the proposed Tribune flyover to decongest traffic. The fact is that this step was just an eyewash. The bureaucracy preferred to follow the beaten track possibly at the behest of the present MP just to conceal the demand for Metro in the city, proposed by her former counterpart.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Flyover will save lives and time

Le Corbusier designed Chandigarh for small population. But with passage of time the population has increased in the City Beautiful. Poor CTU bus service has forced people to commute by their own vehicles. With development of peripheral towns traffic chaos in the city has also increased. Keeping in view the traffic congestion and inconvenience to masses, the UT Administration must go ahead with the Tribune flyover project. It will not only save time, but human lives too.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Flyover need of the hour

Our City Beautiful was designed by Lee Corbusier on a geometric pattern i.e. all roads run parallel and perpendicular to each other with a large number of ornamental trees planted alongside. With increase in the population of the city number of cars, two-wheelers and other vehicles have also gone up. Construction of flyover at the Tribune chowk and other places like Transport chowk near Sector 26 is the need of the hour. It will reduce pollution and improve city's environment. Red lights create lots of pollution as engines of vehicles keep running while wasting fuel and creating pollution.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

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Development cannot be stopped

Heritage is our legacy with which we live with today and pass on to the future generations. For preserving heritage progress of society cannot be stopped. There should be balance between preserving heritage and improving infrastructure. In today's world of science-technology and computerisation, we cannot think of landing on Moon if we focus on saving heritage. To match the world class infrastructure and facilities, proper assessment is required. Trees can be replanted, but flyover cannot be shifted to any other place.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

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No trees, no life

A common phrase often used is "No tress, no life". Residents opposition to the Tribune flyover project is absolutely correct. We need to support them. The move to axe 700 trees is a step towards our end. The UT Administration should find alternative rather than constructing flyover at the Tribune chowk.

Harleen Kaur, Sanghol

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Construct short link road

It really pains to hear that as many as 700 trees will be felled to construct flyover when other cheaper avenues are available to decongest traffic on the Tribune chowk-Zirakpur stretch. A short link road can be constructed through the Phase l or II, Industrial Area, to divert traffic from the Tribune chowk. Already much greenery has been encroached upon, which has adversely affected environment in the City Beautiful.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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It’s time to move ahead

The population and the number of vehicles have been increasing by leaps and bounds in Chandigarh. To cope with the traffic congestion at the Tribune Chowk constructing flyover or underpass has become a necessity. Don’t create problems for the UT Administration and commuters. Change with the situation is the need of the hour. It’s time to move ahead. Tress felled for constructing flyover can be replanted along the Tribune Chowk and Zirakpur stretch.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

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It’s mass slaughter of trees in city

According to environmental ethics and our ancient wisdom cutting a grown up tree is like killing a helpless innocent human. Imagine, how much time it takes for the tree to grow. Axing 700 trees to facilitate commuters by constructing flyover at the Tribune Chowk is nothing but a genocide of trees. A ring road from Zirakpur joining Airport Road to take heavy transport or an underpass is the best option. Also, the present road could be six laned to ease traffic congestion.

Capt Amar Jeet Kumar (retd), Mohali

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UT should revive Metro project

There is no need of flyover as it will destroy original beauty of Chandigarh. Flyover will ruin heritage of the City Beautiful. The UT Administration should construct underpasses where required as envisioned by Le Corbusier. The Tribune Chowk flyover will ease traffic snarls at one intersection only. Therefore, the Administration should revive Metro and expedite proposed outer ring road.

SC Dhall, Zirakpur

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Keep character of city intact

Chandigarh was beautifully designed by Le Corbusier. Any change in its character is not justified. But the designer was not aware about the fact that the population of this beautiful city, besides number of vehicles would increase in the future. Now, to avoid accidents and traffic congestion on the Tribune Chowk and Zirakpur road a solution has to be found. The best alternative to flyover is construction of alternative roads from Transport Chowk to the Tribune Chowk and onwards (if needed) so that people can commute with ease.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

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UT will turn into concrete jungle

The UT Administration must find an alternative to flyover at the Tribune Chowk. While planning the City Beautiful, Le Corbusier would have never thought that it will turn into a concrete jungle. Already, a lot of construction has marred the beauty of the city. In the name of development, the Administration has spoiled the original character of the city and ruined its greenery. The beauty of Chandigarh lies primarily in its originality as well as greenery. So, we must safeguard heritage so that Chandigarh remains City Beautiful.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

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Explore options for easing traffic

Chandigarh has been constructed systematically. Its heritage should not be destroyed at any cost. The Administration can explore other options instead of going for a flyover at the Tribune Chowk. Traffic issues are everywhere in the city. Pollution will increase if around 700 trees are axed. The Administration should divert traffic coming to the Tribune Chowk from the four sides. Roads should be widened from the Tribune Chowk to Zirakpur.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

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Construct underpasses

Trees add to the beauty of Chandigarh and keep environment clean. Flyover is not a solution for reducing traffic congestion on the Tribune Chowk. Bus service can be improved and tickets be sold at lower rates in the UT. CCTVs can be used to monitor traffic at the Chowk. Cycling infrastructure has to be jacked up. Besides widening roads on the Tribune Chowk-Zirakpur stretch, underground passes can be constructed for heavy vehicles.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

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No flyover in UT master plan

The notified Master Plan-2031 envisaged no flyovers or overbridges in the UT. If the Tribune flyover is not torpedoed, a wrong precedent will entail a chain of flyovers at other busy junctions sooner than later. The new 8-km six-lane road around Zirakpur, to be built by NHAI soon, will divert Kalka/Shimla bound traffic from Ambala/Delhi, besides the Chandigarh airport bound traffic from Ambala side avoiding Zirakpur as well as the Tribune Chowk. Once bypass emanating from Kharar to Ambala and terminating at Sectors 20-21 dividing road in Panchkula gets fully operational, the behemoth built at Zirakpur will be rendered redundant.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

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Don’t oppose Tribune flyover project

While maintaining original character of Chandigarh, we have to change with present day requirements and go ahead with the Tribune flyover as per submitted design. There in no other better alternative than the flyover.Population has increased manifold in the UT resulting in frequent traffic bottlenecks. People waste time in traffic snarls while crossing the Tribune Chowk.People should stop opposing the flyover project. Trees can be planted at alternate places in the city.

Charanjiv Singh, Chandigarh

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Divert traffic coming to the Chowk

Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh is known for its proximity to the environment. For keeping its character intact and saving around 700 trees from being axed, the UT Administration must explore other options instead of going for a flyover at the Tribune Chowk. Diverting traffic coming to the Chowk, installing traffic lights and constructing underpasses are feasible alternatives. It takes longer to grow a tree than to cut it.

Shobhna Kalra, Panchkula

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Find early solution to vexed issue

Various options have been discussed in the past, but no solution except flyover at the Tribune Chowk has been found. Commuters face traffic snarls at this point. Double number of trees can be planted on both sides of the flyover and other vacant spots of the city to make up for the loss. Pollution generated by running engines of vehicles during traffic jams at the Tribune Chowk is more dangerous for commuters and residents. The vexed problem has to be worked out at the earliest.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd) Mohali

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Flyover will spoil heritage, greenery

Felling around 700 old trees to make way for the city’s first flyover to decongest the Tribune roundabout from traffic doesn’t seem like a satisfactory option. The traffic coming from outside Chandigarh to the Tribune rotary can be diverted via other roads in the tricity. The City Beautiful is beautiful because of its heritage and greenery. The flyover is compromising both. Building first flyover in the city will set a wrong precedent.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

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Don’t stop development

The wait for city’s first flyover at The Tribune Chowk is getting longer prolonging miseries of commuters. But, axing 700 trees will do no good to the city’s environment. A solution has to be found to this issue. Keeping in view growing population and vehicular traffic flyover is the need of the day. Development should not be stopped. All should cooperate and give a go ahead to the flyover project at the Tribune Chowk.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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A temporary solution for traffic snarls

After scraping the Metro project, bureaucrats and politicians got the Tribune flyover sanctioned. This would be a temporary solution to ease traffic congestion at one intersection thus wasting taxpayers money. The proposed Banur-Kurali Greenfield Expressway has been notified by the NHAI. It will divert Delhi-Manali traffic and ease traffic jams at the Tribune Chowk. The Administration should press the Centre for reviving the Metro extendable up to Zirakpur.

Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (retd), Chandigarh

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Dispensation needs to rollback decision

The decision of the UT Administration to go ahead with the construction of flyover at the Tribune Chowk is lopsided. It would end up devouring some 700 full grown trees, besides defacement of the city’s heritage character. The UT Administration needs come out with a middle path so that the city’s heritage character could be saved by exploring other options. The Administration may mull over having an underpass instead of a flyover.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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Flyover is the need of the hour

Traffic congestion is a big challenge for the Administration in Chandigarh. Around 700 trees will be axed for the flyover at the Tribune Chowk. This will adversely affect the city’s environment and beauty. But, the UT Administration can’t stop flyover construction in the present situation. Completion of this project should be Administration’s priority so that traffic congestion is eased at the Tribune Chowk.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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Underground options can be explored

Every city has its own ethics, which should be maintained at all costs. Chandigarh is known all over world as City Beautiful having some unique characteristics and charm. But it is being deprived of these in the name of development. There are many junctions, which face similar issue of traffic congestion. If flyovers are constructed no green cover will be left. Only underground options should be explored as was done in case of Metro to keep originality of Chandigarh intact.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma,Chandigarh

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Tribune Chowk is city’s hub

The UT Administration should explore other options instead of constructing a flyover at the Tribune Chowk. This area is a hub where people from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab enter the City Beautiful. Moreover, the Tribune Chowk is popular not only in Chandigarh, but in the neighbouring states too. The long route traffic entering the city should be diverted via alternative routes.

Adish Sood, Amloh

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Development comes at a cost

The cost of flyover at the Tribune Chowk is going to be huge as around 1,000 trees will be felled and green cover removed. Every development has an economic cost and this is also one of those dilemmas, which all have to face, including the UT Administration. Vehicular traffic is increasing in Chandigarh and causing long traffic jams leading to wastage of time and fuel. The UT Administration could plant an equal number of trees cut while going ahead with the flyover.

Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

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Provide reliable public transport

The Chandigarh Administration has conceived a plan to construct a flyover at the Tribune Chowk. To start with this project, the administration will have to axe a large number of trees, which will endanger the city’s environment, besides destroying its heritage. The Administration should provide reliable, affordable and frequent public transport at five to 10 minutes interval from V-5 roads. This is the only alternative to check increasing traffic congestion in the city.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

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Demolish roundabout, install lights

Constructing a flyover at the Tribune Chowk will spoil the beauty of the City Beautiful. Design of Le Corbusier will also not be retained. Instead of the flyover, the roundabout can be demolished and proper traffic lights can be installed to streamline traffic. The road can also be widened. Separate lanes can be earmarked for small and heavy vehicles.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

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Drop such an ill-conceived idea

The proposed move of the UT Administration to go ahead with the construction of a flyover at the Tribune Chowk and in the process axe around 700 trees could hardly be justified. Truly speaking, going ahead with the trimmed size of the proposed flyover could be akin to serving some half-baked food apart from costing the UT Administration dearly both in the financial and ecological terms. On wishes some wiser counsel soon prevails upon those, who seem desperate to implement the project.

SK Gupta, Panchkula

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QUESTION

During the waste segregation drive started in Sector 1 to 30, it was found that residents were not aware of segregating waste at source. At many places, rehris are still collecting waste even as door-to-door garbage collection vehicles have been introduced by the MC. What steps need to be taken to improve waste collection in the UT?

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

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