Chandigarh Metro

Chandigarh Metro is a proposed rapid transit system for the city and union territory of Chandigarh in India.^[2]

History

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) submitted the detailed project report of the Chandigarh Metro Project to Punjab Governor and UT administrator Shivraj Patil on 16 August 2012.^[3]

Motivation

The main motivation for the setting up of Chandigarh Metro is that the population of Chandigarh Urban Complex (CUC) has been growing at a rate of over 5% per year in the last decade. There has also been a phenomenal growth in the number of vehicles in this period and their rising use due to rising household incomes since Chandigarh has the highest per capita income in the country. Beside this, there has been a sharp rise in the population of the nearby towns which has put a lot of pressure on the public transport system. In the absence of adequate and quality mass transport system, people are using the personalised modes which is not only leading to congestion on road network but also increasing environmental pollution.

Road network is enough for now but main travel corridors are beginning to become congested. Travel speeds are declining on the major roads which have limited scope of widening. This indicates the need for judicious use of the available road space. Thus there is need to optimise the available capacity by adopting transport system management measures.

Many junctions particularly on Madhya Marg, Himalaya Marg, Dakshin Marg, Jan Marg, Purv Marg, Udyogpath etc. have very high traffic volumes and most of the junctions with rotaries have exceeded their capacity. With expected growth of traffic, the situation at these junctions is likely to deteriorate fast.

Parking is assuming critical dimensions in Chandigarh particularly in Sector 17. Parking facilities need to be augmented substantially. Hence there is a need for an alternative mode of transportation to reduce the congestion of parking spaces.

Plan

In the first phase, a 37.573 km metro rail network will be built of which 23.468 km will be elevated and 14.105 km underground Corridor. It will run from north to south. It will start near Capitol Complex and will go up to Mohali. Corridor II, also known as East West Corridor, will start from Sector 21, Panchkula and reach up to Mullanpur.^[4][5]

Routes

The proposed routes for the various corridors of the metro network are as follows:

• Corridor 1: Khuda Lahora to IT Park via Punjab University, PGI, Government College, General Hospital, Sector 17- Interchange, Sector 8, Sector 7, Sector 26, Grain Market, Transport Nagar, Chandigarh Railway Station, Manimajra, covering a distance of approximately 16.00 km.
• Corridor II: Sectt. Sector 1 Chandigarh to Bus terminal Sector 104 S.A.S Nagar, Mohali, via Rock Garden, Sector 9, Sector 17 interchange, Sector 17 ISBT, Sector 22-Aroma Hotel Sector 34, Bus Terminal Sector 43, Sector 52, Mohali Sector 62, Sector 60, Sector 72, Sector 71, Sector 75, Sector 76, Sector 77, Sector 78, Sector 87, Sector 97, Sector 106, Sector 105 covering a distance of 22 km.
• Corridor III : Timber Market Chowk Sector 26 to Sector 38 and Dadu Majra along Purv Marg and Vikas Marg covering a distance of approximately 14.6 km.
• Corridor – IV: Housing Board Chowk to Sector 21 Panchkula, via Panchkula Sector 17,16,15,14, & 21 covering a distance of 5 km.^[6]

Cost

The project is expected to cost 113.75 billion (US$1.8 billion), out of which 89.95 billion (US$1.4 billion) will be borne by Chandigarh Administration, 16.8 billion (US$270 million) will be borne by Punjab Govt. and the remaining 7 billion (US$110 million) by Haryana Govt. The expected cost of the metro elevated section is 1.4 billion (US$22 million) per Km and that of the metro underground section is 3.5 billion (US$56 million) per Km. The metro will be completed in two phases. The estimated cost of Phase-I is 89.95 billion (US$1.4 billion) and that of Phase-II is 23.8 billion (US$380 million).

Vision

The vision behind the metro system is a well contained city with efficient people friendly transport system with minimum travel time & maximum safety and comfort. The main points of the envisaged vision are:

1. To improve connectivity and travel throughout the city and its region.
2. To improve mobility within neighborhoods, wards, zones and satellite towns to address inner- and inter-city transportation needs.
3. To achieve efficient arrangement of land use and transport systems to minimize overall travel cost.
4. To offer viable and reliable transportation options that aim at reducing dependence on cars, with widespread use of non-motorised modes and mass rapid transit system.

See also

• Transport in India
• Rapid transit in India
• List of rapid transit systems
• Delhi Metro

References