NHAI mulls 4-lane road to cut travel time from Baddi to PGI

To reduce travel time for Himachal Pradesh residents coming to the PGIMER, the National Highways Authority India (NHAI) is all set to construct a four-lane road from Majri Chowk in Mullanpur to Baddi via Siswan.

The 18-km stretch is a part of the ring road to be constructed around Chandigarh. Presently, motorists have to manoeuver through a single road from Baddi to New Chandigarh to reach the PGIMER. An official said the project was awaiting forest clearance from the Punjab Government.

Awaits green nod from Punjab Govt

• The NHAI has planned a four-lane road from Majri Chowk in Mullanpur to Baddi via Siswan
• The 18-km stretch will be a part of the ring road to be constructed around the tricity
• While related projects are on course, the said stretch is awaiting forest clearance from Punjab

According to the minutes of a meeting of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) held recently under the chairmanship of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, the project director of the NHAI gave a detailed presentation regarding the development of the ring road around the tricity area.

The NHAI highlighted that the rapid development of Mohali, Zirakpur and Panchkula around Chandigarh had significantly increased traffic in the area. Further, Derabassi, Kharar, Morinda, New Chandigarh and Pinjore towns had also developed as suburbs. To decongest the traffic, the NHAI has prepared a plan for the development of the ring road around Chandigarh-tricity area. He said six projects were under the execution stage, while the DPR of one project was being prepared. It was informed that part of the ring road around Chandigarh-tricity connecting Baddi in Himachal to New Chandigarh (Punjab) through Siswan was pending due to issues regarding forest clearance.

He requested that these issues be resolved at the earliest so that the work on this stretch could be started.

Meanwhile, the Zirakpur bypass project is back on the track after nearly 11 years. The NHAI will construct a six-lane 200-ft bypass to ease traffic congestion in Zirakpur. The project will provide an alternative route to commuters going to Shimla from Ambala side.

The NHAI stated that a plan had been prepared to construct a bypass connecting Zirakpur and Panchkula. The route would provide a direct link to traffic heading to HP, thus reducing congestion in the tricity area. Moreover, it is strategically important as it will offer a signal-free connectivity from the Chandimandir Western Command Headquarters to the Chandigarh airport.

The proposed bypass will be nearly 16.5-km long, starting from Patiala-Zirakpur light point and ending at old Panchkula light point. An official said the project would remove traffic bottlenecks from several places in Zirakpur and Chandigarh.