Expert panel nod to Tribune flyover was a mere formality

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 10

No experts’ committee, including the high-powered state-level Road Safety Council, of the UT Administration had ever discussed the Tribune flyover project or other options before its approval.

According to information procured under the Right to Information Act, it has been revealed that the Administration first appointed a consultant to prepare the detailed project report with the aim of ensuring seamless traffic on the national highway up to Zirarkpur and then opted for the flyover option. Later, a presentation regarding the flyover was made before members of the council.

The presentation regarding the Tribune flyover was made at a meeting of the Road Safety Council held on June 8, 2018. The presentation was made after the project was approved by the Administration at the highest level. One of the members of the Road Safety Council said the presentation was a mere formality as the flyover project had already been approved and was placed only for discussion. He said the members discussed only the flyover option. He said they would have given different views had the department presented all options suggested by the consultant.

In the minutes of the meeting, it has been mentioned that “at the outset of the meeting, the Chief Engineer-cum-Special Secretary told the members of the council that due to a substantial increase in the traffic over the years, there was a lot of traffic congestion from Tribune Chowk to Zirakpur as this stretch falls on the national highway.

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