Open House: Should the authorities focus on the Metro project or explore alternate solutions?
Considering the differing opinions on the tricity Metro project’s feasibility, the authorities concerned should explore alternative approaches to address traffic congestion. Instead of solely relying on the Metro, they could invest in expanding public bus services with dedicated lanes, promoting cycling infrastructure and implementing intelligent traffic management systems. These solutions would provide comprehensive and sustainable transportation options, potentially addressing the needs of a wider population.
Gurpreet Kaur, Mohali
Metro a Solution to snarl-ups in city
Traffic-induced chaos and pollution in the city are on the rise due to the increasing number of vehicles. Early introduction of the Metro seems like the only solution to these problems. The Metro would connect all corners of the city and reduce the pressure on parking lots, too.
N P S Sohal, Chandigarh
QUESTION for next week
On an average, three vehicles are stolen in Chandigarh daily, while the police have a low recovery rate. What measures should they take to curb the thefts of motor vehicles in the city?
Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com
Overbridges needed along with Metro
While the Merto project is a requirement in the tricity, the overbridge from Zirakpur to Saragpur village is also important. This overbridge will greatly reduce traffic in the area as the vehicles going to Himachal Pradesh and Punjab will be able to use it. Underpasses are also necessary at the Tribune Chowk for the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 and to the PGI from the Dadumajra light point.
Anokh Singh Kahlon, Chandigarh
Project not suitable for small city
Metro is not suitable to resolve the problem of transportation in the tricity as it is a very small city. Going ahead with the project would destroy the beauty and character of the city. Alternative modes of transportion should be explored so that people are motivated to use public transport instead of individual vehicles and car pooling should be encouraged.
Anand, Manimajra
Need short-term measures right now
Since the Metro seems to be a long term project, the administration needs to come out with immediate short term measures to improve the situation. Carpooling must be encouraged and a special team should be formed to see its implementation. Public transport must be upgraded and more eco-friendly AC vehicles must be added to the fleet. There should be a special campaign to encourage young executives and students to use bicycles or e-bikes for short distance travel and subsidies must be given on these. The Centre must intervene to take the Metro project forward to make Chandigarh better as far as movement on roads is concerned.
YASH KHETARPAL, PANCHKULA
Feasible only for city outskirts
The Metro project is a sensitive one, hence before giving the final nod pros and cons should be considered as Chandigarh is a well-planned and heritage-oriented city. Outer areas of the tricity can be connected via the Metro. Inside the city traffic can be controlled with proper planning for example the blocked road from Naya Goan should be opened near the Punjab CM ’s official residence towards Sakatri and Panchkula. The city cannot afford to cut trees to make way for the Metro. Usage of private cars should be restricted. Unless VVIPs travel in buses they wouldn’t know the pulse of the public.
Opinder K Sekhon, Chandigarh
Project Will help reduce pollution
With an increase in the population of the tricity the Metro is the need of the hour as it would help control pollution and improve the air quality index. The sooner the project is launched, the better it is for the people as it will be cost-effective and save them precious time and money. The project will also create job opportunities.
Col TBS Bedi
Metro will ease traffic congestion
Without indulging in politics, the administrators should think of the plight of ordinary people. Roads are congested as people commute in rickshaws, cars, buses and bikes in the tricity and from nearby towns such as Ambala, Rajpura, Baddi, Kalka and Ropar. The Metro project is the need of the hour and will ease traffic conditions.
Deepak Taak , Panchkula
Not commercially viable for tricity
To reduce traffic congestion and pollution, the UT administration should launch double-decker e-buses on all busy routes under the PPP model for better efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The frequency of such buses should be more during peak hours. The Metro will not be commercially viable and the gestation period is very long.
K C Rana, Chandigarh
Maintain existing infrastructure
Before launching new projects the existing infrastructure needs to be maintained. The condition of footpaths, cycle tracks, road markings, etc have visibly deteriorated in the last two-three years. The city that used to be spic and span is now in need of extensive housekeeping measures, including general cleaning, garbage disposal, hedge maintenance, paint jobs and new sign boards. The MC and UT administration need to focus on these aspects.
Wg Cdr Vikram Chhibber, Chandigarh
Will ruin ecosystem of city beautiful
The small and beautiful city does not require a huge project like the Metro. The administration should let the city remain without a flyover. The nuisance is being caused due to not following the Periphery Act. Chopping more than 700 trees and spoiling the ecosystem at the entry point of Chandigarh is not the answer.
Rahul Mahajan
Need sustainable transport system
Chandigarh, known for its beauty, faces significant traffic congestion during the peak hours. The Metro project should be prioritised to alleviate this problem, while public transport must be promoted. Reducing the use of private cars and encouraging carpooling can help decongest roads. Cycling should also be encouraged, both for health benefits and sustainability, with cyclists, especially students and office-goers, receiving recognition for their efforts. To retain Chandigarh’s status as a beautiful and peaceful city, improving public transportation and promoting ecofriendly commuting options are essential.
Vijay Katyal, Panchkula
Two-coach Metro most viable option
The focus now should be to kick-start the Phase-1 corridor, spanning 85 km with 16 km in the heritage sector. The two-coach Metro seems to be the most viable MRT system with a mix of overhead and underground networks which is targeted to be completed by 2032. To fructify this, the Punjab Government should get approval from the Forest Department for 50 acres which has already been allotted. For the Metro,around 3,376 trees are planned to be axed and the project would cost Rs 24,000 crore. The greatest spin-off of the two coach-metro will be its ability to cater to the peak hour passenger demand.
BRIG ADVITYA MADAN, CHANDIGARH
Metro will be expensive solution
Metro is, no doubt, a long-term solution to traffic snarls but an extremely expensive and time consuming one at that. The relatively smaller size and population of Chandigarh justify a more cost-effective and quicker solution like Bus Rapid Transit system with an improvement in the existing infrastructure. The Metro would create interim term traffic disruptions and would lead to a dismantling of the city’s infrastructure.
Harinder Singh Bhalla
Adopt multi-pronged approach to issue
The authorities concerned should adopt a multi-pronged approach, complementing the Metro project with alternative transportation solutions. They should introduce smart traffic management systems, optimise public bus services, and promote non-motorised transport infrastructure such as cycle tracks and pedestrian paths. Additionally, they must explore innovative solutions like hyperloop systems, pod taxis or elevated bus rapid transit corridors to create a sustainable and efficient transportation network to alleviate traffic woes.
Gaganpreet singh, Mohali
Four-wheelers choking roads
The UT’s roads are choked with cars. Every nook and cranny of public land has cars parked on it, mostly for free. Against the 8 lakh cars in the city there are only 400 local useable buses of UT transport authority. That are 2,000 cars against one bus. Whereas the ratio should be 40 cars against one local buse. So the authorities should either introduce 20,000 local buses or 5,000 buses along with the Metro project should be launched to balance public transport with the number of cars in the city.
Ashok Kumar Goel, Panchkula
Metro will become transport lifeline
The Metro project might seem unnecessary at present but it is a forwarding initiative which would certainly benefit citizens in the long run. The city’s growing, population and traffic congestion may worsen in the coming years and Metro is the alternative to resolving the problem. It would reduce travelling time, need for parking spaces and also minimise congestion. As and when the project is completed it will become the lifeline of the transport system.
Sukhpal Singh
Need to spread awareness
One needs to keep in mind the kind of people that will be travelling in the Metro, which is mostly middle class. Like Delhi the Metro would not be able to reduce congestion as it is the people with means who would still use cars and Chandigarh has a high per capita income. As each member of a family has their personal car the Metro won’t really be able to solve the issue of traffic congestion. ‘Rich’ people need to be made aware of the problem.
Poonam Pal
Preserve sites, go for underground lines
There is nothing wrong in going ahead with the project, looking at the chaos on roads and the parking issues in the city. The heritage sites of the city can be preserved by keeping the metro tracks underground at prominent places. The city was planned for a population of 5 lakh, but is expected to touch 20 lakh by 2031. The rush on the roads is four times than the city should cater to. Hence the decision to induct the Metro or other fast moving travelling system has to be taken on priority before the city turns into Gurugram, Calcutta, Mumbai, etc.
Wg Cdr JS Minhas (Retd), Mohali
Proper planning for project necessary
During the Administrator’s Advisory Council meeting, the tricity Metro project was debated, with key members differing on its feasibility. The authorities concerned should focus on the Metro project to address traffic issues. Proper planning is necessary for a better implementation of the system.
Adish Sood
Mini local buses should be introduced
Chandigarh tricity does not fulfil the requirements for having a Metro. Firstly its population is not sufficient, secondly the city has wide roads which encourage the people to drive instead of walking from/to metro stations. Moreover the distances are short for which the metro will proportionately consume more time compared to other modes of transport. The best and more acceptable mode would be mini local buses with frequent runs.
B S Cheema, Mohali
Will improve tricity connectivity
Metro is the only solution, keeping in mind a surge in the population in the city and the number of vehicles on the road. Many people from the peripheral areas commute to their offices in the city daily. The Metro would turn out to be a boon for such people.
Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali
Make project a reality before its too late
The leaders opposing the Metro mostly travel by air and want a shorter route to the airport. They should also think about the plight of daily commuters who suffer from traffic congestion, which increases travel time, impacts their productivity, causes parking problems and accidents. Stakeholders should join hands to justify the need for the Metro in the tricity before it is too late. This will help integrated development and enhance economic growth in the region.
Col Balbir Singh Mathauda
Road infra in city not adequate
Metro is the need of the hour and should be developed as soon as possible to ease out the traffic problems in the tricity. Approximately 1.4 Lakh vehicles cross chowks in the city daily and the present road infrastructure network is not enough to cater to these numbers. Hence there is an urgent need for Metro and flyovers based mixed infrastructure.
Vijay shukla , Chandigarh
Build flyovers for four-wheelers
Nearly 80 per cent of the city’s population is not in favour of the Metro project as they fear tax payers’ money will down the drain. Instead of the Metro the Engineering Department should coordinate with neighbouring states to find out more ways to ease traffic by considering constructing more flyovers. Pedestrians and two-wheelers should be directed to travel on the roads under the flyover, while for four-using flyovers should be compulsory. The tricity is not large enough and commuting between two places here is easier without the Metro unlike in Delhi where the Metro is a necessity.
Savita Kuthiala
Make public transport free
Metro is a boon for the tricity amid the ever-increasing traffic. The government should go ahead with the elevated Metro project which least affects the beauty and heritage of the city .the government should focus on making more ring roads and by-passes. Public transport should be made free so that more and more people use it, especially during the office hours. Pool taxes and updated cycle track can also help regulate the traffic in the city.
Avinash goyal, Chandigarh
Metro best bet to fight traffic chaos
Metro rail is the best and most suitable alternative to manage the ever-increasing traffic. With a population of over 12 lakh and 15 lakh registered vehicles, Chandigarh has the highest density of vehicles per household in the country, leading to acute traffic snarls. In addition to these, over 2 lakh vehicles cross the city on interstate routes daily. Amid the lack of reliable public transport system for commuters the Metro or trams could be the answer or the authorities should increase the number of local buses. This will benefit the public as well as ease out traffic congestion on the roads. Implementing the Metro project across the tricity is highly important as most residents use personal vehicles and a very few use CTU buses for daily traveling, adding to traffic woes. Framing an underground network for the Metro is the need of the hour.
SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI
