The Punjab and Haryana High Court will pronounce on Friday its verdict on a petition challenging the proposed flyover at Tribune Chowk in Chandigarh, amid objections that the project violates the city’s heritage character and planning framework.
The matter was heard by the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, which had reserved the judgment on Wednesday after hearing arguments for nearly three hours.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners, advocate Tanu Bedi, argued that the proposed flyover was contrary to Chandigarh’s Master Plan and would adversely affect the city’s urban design, green belts and pedestrian-friendly character.
Seeking interim protection against tree felling till the verdict, Bedi had urged the Bench to restrain the authorities from proceeding further with the project. Responding to the plea, the Chief Justice had observed: “We will see”.
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 visual cityscape and non-motorised transport.
She had further argued that expanding infrastructure for private vehicles would only shift congestion from one point to another and described the proposed flyover as “a death knell to Chandigarh heritage”.
UT senior standing counsel Amit Jhanji had opposed the plea and argued that the Master Plan permitted the construction of flyovers. He had also submitted that only Sectors 1 to 30 were recognised as heritage zones and not the entire city.
