The long wait for the tricity metro project in Chandigarh is set to extend further as UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has formally formed an eight-member committee to assess the financial and economic feasibility of the system.

This comes two months after the administrator – at the Unified Metro Transportation Authority (UMTA) meeting on September 2 – first asked officials to carefully examine the project’s viability in cities of comparable size .

This was followed by a contentious discussion at the UT Administrator’s Advisory Council (AAC) meeting on September 14, during which former MP Kirron Kher had expressed her strong opposition to the project, while that current MP Manish Tewari defended it as a crucial step towards tackling the city’s problem. increasing traffic chaos.

Now, the administrator has appointed the committee to conduct an assessment in collaboration with Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES). The commission is expected to submit its report within two months, further delaying the already delayed project.

At the AAC meeting, Kirron Kher, an unwavering critic of the project while serving as the city’s MP for two terms since 2014, had reiterated her stance that the project would seriously harm the city. “The project is not financially viable and will lead to the uprooting of the entire city,” she argued.

On the other hand, Manish Tewari had expressed concern over the undue delay in the metro project in Chandigarh and its surrounding areas. He had advocated it as a futuristic project that would benefit not only the city but also the surrounding areas.

Panel to also explore other ways to relieve traffic congestion

The committee was tasked with assessing the overall feasibility of a metro rail project for the city, by analyzing relevant reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on other metro projects.

It will coordinate with RITES Limited for a comprehensive analysis, determining whether a metro is financially viable for Chandigarh, and also explore alternative means of transport to decongest traffic in the city.

The UT Chief Engineer has been made the nodal officer and convener of the committee, whose members include UT Town Planning Secretary, UT Transport Secretary; transport administrative secretaries of Punjab and Haryana; administrative secretary of housing and urban development, Punjab; administrative secretary of town and country planning, Haryana; and the chief architect of UT.

The committee will also work with stakeholders from Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHAIL), IAF station and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to resolve inter-governmental coordination issues related to airport access and development of a ring road around Chandigarh.

RITES plans to seek support from relevant ministries for the preparation of the report, including studies on financial viability in cities with similar populations. For example, sources note that the Delhi Metro, which began operations in 2000, has recorded profits in only one year of its 24-year history, with those profits being marginal.

The UT Department of Engineering contracted RITES Limited to use radar technology to evaluate underground utilities in the area.

Two-coach metro most viable for Tricity: RITES

Earlier this year, RITES had recommended the two-coach Metro Rail system as the most viable option for Chandigarh’s tricity zone in its Alternatives Analysis Report (AAR). Besides, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has approved an underground metro system in heritage sectors (1 to 30).

Since then, three UMTA meetings have been held to discuss the AAR and geotechnical investigation report for the mass rapid transit system (MRTS) in the tricity.

The UMTA functions as a unified platform for solving mobility problems in the tricity, coordinating stakeholders in the implementation of mobility plans aimed at improving traffic conditions.

Two phases planned

Estimated cost approximately ₹At a total cost of 24,000 crore, Phase 1 of the Metro project is expected to be completed by 2032, according to the AAR. As part of this phase, a stretch of 85.65 km has been planned, comprising overhead and underground routes, including 16.5 km of underground routes falling in heritage areas.

The first phase includes three routes: Sultanpur, New Chandigarh, to Sector 28, Panchkula (34 km); From Sukhna Lake to Zirakpur ISBT via Mohali ISBT and Chandigarh Airport (41.20 km); and from Grain Market Chowk, Sector 39, to Transport Chowk, Sector 26 (13.30 km), along with a 2.5 km depot entry line.

In phase 2, which will be developed after 2034, a 25 km line has been proposed from Chowk Airport to Manakpur Kallar (5 km) and ISBT Zirakpur to Pinjore (20 km), mainly an elevated network.