Punjab set to allot 45 acres for Metro depot in New Chandigarh

In a boost to the long-awaited Tricity Metro project, the Punjab Government has finally agreed to allocate 45 acres (18 hectares) in New Chandigarh for the construction of a Metro depot. The depot will be crucial for inspection and maintenance works related to the upcoming Metro lines.

The issue of land allotment for the depot had been a persistent hurdle in the project’s progress. The UT Administration had sent multiple reminders to the Punjab Government, urging them to clarify their stance on the matter. Following a recent clearance from the Forest Department, the Punjab Government has now confirmed that the land was ready to be released, pending final approval of the Chief Minister.

A senior official said it had been decided to release 45 acres in New Chandigarh for the construction of the depot. The file has been sent to the Chief Minister for final approval, which is expected within a week. Once approved, the land will be handed over to the UT Administration, he added.

The matter was a key agenda item during the Unified Metro Transportation Authority (UMTA) meeting held on September 2. While this marks a positive step for the New Chandigarh depot, the Punjab Government has declined to provide land for another proposed depot in Zirakpur. In its place, an alternative depot will now be constructed in Sector 27, Panchkula, with approval already secured from the Haryana Government.

The depot allotments are part of the larger Metro development plan for the Tricity, which will see construction beginning in 2027 as part of the first phase, with completion expected by 2034. Phase 2 of the project will commence post-2037, further expanding the city’s metro connectivity.

RITES, a subsidiary of the Railways, has recommended a two-coach Metro system for the tricity. Based on both qualitative and quantitative screening carried out by the agency concerned, the Metro (2 coach) system has emerged as the most viable alternative mass rapid transport system (MRTS) to meet the expected mass transport needs of the tricity, recommended RITES in its draft alternatives analysis report (AAR).

In the preliminary screening, Metrolite and Metro Rail (2 coach) emerged as prospective mass transport system for the tricity. However, the Metrolite system will not be able to cater to the peak hour, peak direction passenger trips and will get saturated around 2054-55. Only the Metro (2 coach) system will continue to cater to the peak hour passenger demand much beyond 2056 as it has a higher carrying capacity, suggested the report.