Finally, Punjab to give 50 acres land in New Chandigarh for Metro depot

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Chandigarh, July 10

The Punjab Government has finally agreed to allocate nearly 50 acres in New Chandigarh for the construction of a Metro depot. The decision has paved the way for the tricity Metro project.

The UT Administration had sent repeated reminders to the Punjab Government for the allocation of the piece of land identified for the construction of the Metro depot in New Chandigarh.

A senior officer stated the government was ready to allocate nearly 50 acres, but the clearance by the Forest Department was pending to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

The Alternative Analysis Report (AAR) prepared by the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) identified the need for a depot in New Chandigarh. The land, already earmarked, is crucial for the inspection and maintenance of the Metro system once operational.

Earlier, a proposal for an additional depot in Zirakpur was declined by the state government. However, in collaboration with the Haryana Government, plans are underway to set up a depot in Sector 27, Panchkula, as an alternative solution.

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has recently given in-principle approval to the proposed Metro project to be underground in the heritage sectors (1-30) of the city.

The UT Administration had recommended that the proposed Metro project for the city should be mainly underground to preserve the city’s aesthetic structure.

A sub-committee of the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee, considering the city’s heritage status, had recommended the underground line for the entire Metro project. The UT Administration had communicated this decision to the ministry, and a detailed report on the underground project was requested for a final decision. The Administration had submitted the report to the ministry for the final decision.

The sub-committee had suggested that no stretch of the Metro in the planned city should be elevated. This is also in sync with the recommendations of the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031.

In a bid to preserve the heritage status of the city, the Administration had recommended that the Metro within the sectoral grid should be underground despite the substantially higher cost.

According to UNESCO guidelines, the Metro section connecting the Capitol Complex and the Sukhna Lake needs heritage impact assessment.