To decongest traffic on one of the busiest roads in the city, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has appointed a consultant to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of a flyover from the Poultry Farm Chowk to Zirakpur border.
According to officials, the consultant would submit its report within three months. The estimated cost of the 4.5-km flyover project is likely to be Rs 300-350 crore.
Officials stated that it was not possible to construct a single flyover from the GMCH-32 Chowk to Zirakpur border due to the rail overbridge (ROB) near the Poultry Farm Chowk. As such, it was decided to divide the flyover into two parts. The first flyover is to be constructed at the Tribune Chowk and another will start near the ROB, and go up to the newly constructed flyover on the Zirakpur border, bypassing the Poultry Farm Chowk, Hallo Majra and Old Airport light points.
The ministry has proposed a six-lane flyover to make the entire stretch from Zirakpur border to the Tribune Chowk signal free, said the officials. This stretch sees snarl-ups during the morning and evening office hours every day.
The consultant will assess the existing alignment, evaluate multiple design alternatives and recommend the most viable solution based on various parameters.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently stayed the felling of trees for the proposed Tribune Chowk flyover project. The order came on a petition raising objections that the project violated the city’s heritage character and planning framework.
Referring to the Master Plan 2031, the petitioner’s counsel had contended that Chandigarh was planned as a pedestrian and cycle-friendly city, and that flyovers affected the landscape and non-motorised transport in the city.
The contract for the construction of the Tribune Chowk flyover was recently awarded to city-based Singla Constructions Limited for Rs 147.98 crore, which was 31% below the estimated cost. The 1.6 km project includes a rotary and underpass and is scheduled to commence in May 2026 with a completion timeline of two years.
