Rs 1,000-crore infra blitz to reshape Chandigarh skyline
The Tribune Exclusive: Big push to education, health, sports, policing, roads, administration as over two dozen projects move ahead
Chandigarh is witnessing a major infrastructure push with projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore either in the pipeline, under execution or lined up for immediate start, giving a decisive fillip to education, health, sports, policing, roads, jail reforms and administrative infrastructure across the union territory.
In all, more than 25 projects at different stages are being executed or planned to strengthen civic facilities and reinforce the city’s status as India’s first planned and a modern, future-ready city.
Sharing details, UT Chief Engineer CB Ojha told The Tribune that the projects span schools and colleges, hostels, hospitals, police stations, courts, parking facilities, sports complexes, roads and key administrative buildings, with clearly defined timelines and budgets to ensure time-bound delivery.
Cost-wise projects dossier
Education & hostels: GMSSS Maloya block (Rs 11.31 cr); PEC boys’ hostel (Rs 30.71 cr); PEC research scholars’ hostel (Rs 26.39 cr); GMSSS Sector 27 block (Rs 5.87 cr); CCET boys’ hostel (Rs 26 cr); Vindhya Girls’ Hostel extension (Rs 43 cr); GCB Sector 46 gymnasium (Rs 11.06 cr); Kurukshetra Boys’ Hostel extension, PEC (Rs 32 cr, February 2026); Govt College Sector 46 hostel (Rs 16.66 cr, February 2026); PGGC-11 Academic & Research Centre (Rs 9.93 cr, July 2026); govt school, CAPF Dhanas (Rs 11.5 cr, June 2027)
Health: Critical Care Block, Manimajra (Rs 64.67 cr); MBBS hostels, GMCH-48 (Rs 48 cr, June 2026); Mother & Child Care Centre, Sector 32A (Rs 53 cr, March 2027)
Sports: Astro turf hockey ground, Sector 18 (Rs 8.14 cr); Sports Complex, Sector 42 (Rs 120 cr)
Police, justice & jail: Sector 49 police station (Rs 21.52 cr); Model Jail expansion (Rs 44.42 cr); police stations at Mauli Jagran (Rs 9.5 cr) and IT Park (Rs 9.81 cr); District Courts parking, Sector 43 (Rs 48 cr, March 2026)
Roads & urban mobility: Pedestrian subway PGI-PU (Rs 12.31 cr); elevated road, Madhya Marg (Rs 78 cr); multi-level parking, GMCH-32 (Rs 53 cr); Bulk Material Market, Sector 56 (Rs 21.42 cr)
Admn & transport: New DC Office bldg (Rs 148 cr); CTU bus depot-cum-workshop, Raipur Kalan (Rs 68 cr, July 2026)
Among projects in the pipeline, education infrastructure figures prominently. A new G+2 block at Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Maloya, costing Rs 11.31 crores will add classrooms, labs, a library and vocational facilities. A new boys’ hostel (G+6) at PEC, Sector 12, with 103 rooms is planned at Rs 30.71 crores, while a research scholars’ hostel (G+6) on the same campus, with 99 rooms, will come up at Rs 26.39 crores. An additional academic block at the GMSSS, Sector 27 (Rs 5.87 crores) will add 10 classrooms with barrier-free access. At the CCET, Sector 26, a boys’ hostel with 72 dormitories across three levels will be built at Rs 26 crore, while Vindhya Girls’ Hostel, PEC, will get a G+6 extension with 320 rooms at Rs 43 crores. A gymnasium hall at Government College for Boys, Sector 46 (Rs 11.06 crores) will provide indoor sports, yoga and multipurpose facilities.
Health infrastructure is set to expand with a 50-bed critical care block at Manimajra at Rs 64.67 crores, featuring emergency services, ICU, OT, diagnostics and administrative facilities. Sports facilities will get a boost with an FIH-approved astro turf hockey ground at Sector 18 (Rs 8.14 crores) with LED lighting, and a major sports complex at Sector 42 worth Rs 120 crores, including a swimming pool block, multipurpose hall and a girls’ hostel.
Policing and justice infrastructure is also being strengthened. A modern police station at Sector 49 (Rs 21.52 crores) with basement parking, armoury and barracks is planned, while the model jail will see additional construction for Rs 44.42 crores, adding court rooms, an administrative block and a multipurpose hall. A pedestrian subway between the PGI and Panjab University (Rs 12.31 crores), equipped with lifts and staircases, will improve pedestrian safety and connectivity.
Administrative and urban mobility projects include a new DC office building at a cost of Rs 148 crores, with three basements and seven storeys and a built-up area of about 3.52 lakh sq ft. A multi-level parking facility at the GMCH-32 (Rs 53 crores) will accommodate over 1,350 cars. A 1.3-km elevated road on Madhya Marg (Khuda Lahora–Sarangpur) costing Rs 78 crores will create a four-lane dual carriageway elevated corridor to ease traffic congestion.
On the ongoing projects front, work is progressing steadily on several large facilities with defined completion targets. The extension of Kurukshetra Boys’ Hostel (G+6) at PEC, Sector 12, costing Rs 32 crores is targeted for coming February, raising total hostel capacity to 622 rooms. A hostel block at Government College, Sector 46 (Rs 16.66 crores) for boys and girls with 276 beds is also due by February. Housing projects include 240 Type-II houses at the Chandigarh Armed Police Complex, Dhanas (Rs 65 crores), slated for March 2026.
Urban parking will get a major lift with a multi-level parking facility at District Courts–Judicial Academy, Sector 43 costing Rs 48 crores, providing parking for 1,272 cars by March 2026. At the GMCH Sector 48 campus, MBBS hostels for boys and girls worth Rs 48 crores are scheduled for June 2026, offering accommodation for 574 students. Public transport infrastructure will be strengthened with the 4th CTU bus depot-cum-workshop at Raipur Kalan (Rs 68 crores), targeted for July 2026.
School and academic infrastructure projects include a G+3 Government High School at Sarangpur (Rs 10 crores) with 49 classrooms, and an Advanced Academic & Research Centre at the PGGC-11 (Rs 9.93 crores), both due by July 2026. Market and healthcare projects include the Bulk Material Market, Sector 56 (West) (Rs 21.42 crores) to be completed by September 2026, and a Mother & Child Care Centre at Sector 32A (Rs 53 crores) with 322 beds, targeted for March 2027.
Under projects likely to start shortly, two modern police stations — at Mauli Jagran (Rs 9.5 crores) and IT Park (Rs 9.81 crores) — are planned with completion targets of March 2027. A new government school at the CAPF Complex, Dhanas (Rs 11.5 crores) with 41 classrooms is scheduled for completion in June 2027. Another housing project, 144 Type-II houses at the Chandigarh Armed Police Complex, Dhanas (Rs 45 crores), is slated for completion by December 2027.
UT Engineering and Education Secretary Prerna Puri said the UT Administration was closely monitoring progress to ensure quality construction and adherence to timelines. “These projects collectively strengthen Chandigarh’s core infrastructure — education, healthcare, safety, sports and governance — while improving daily life for residents,” she said.
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to all-round infrastructure development. “Chandigarh, the country’s first planned city, must continue to set benchmarks. We are committed to developing world-class infrastructure and public facilities to project the City Beautiful as a modern, future-ready city. There is no dearth of funds for development projects, and our focus remains on timely execution, quality and public convenience,” he said.
