Grand plans but only on paper: Chandigarh's long list of stalled projects

Once touted as India's best city, the quality of life in Chandigarh has been steadily declining. Projects that could have improved life for residents have remained stalled for decades. While the blame is often placed on the ad-hoc functioning of the UT bureaucracy, HT explores why these projects are stuck — and where the buck really stops.

- Hillary Victor

Metro halted on tracks

Conceived in 2009, the Metro project has run into several hurdles, including stiff opposition from former BJP MP Kirron Kher. Residents, meanwhile, are left wondering if the project will ever see the light of the day. The project had got a fresh lease of life in June last year when the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) greenlighted it, terming it economically viable for the tricity. However, the future of the long-delayed metro project hinges significantly on its projected cost, with estimates suggesting a substantial outlay of ₹25,000 crore to ₹30,000 crore.

Phase 1 is expected to be completed by 2032, with construction set to start in 2027 if all clearances are in place. Notably, 16.5 km - of the total 85.65 km route -would pass underground through Chandigarh’s heritage sectors. Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal blamed the long delay on lack of followup since 2014. “To deal with the traffic chaos from the city’s large vehicle population and daily inflow of outside vehicles, an efficient rapid mass transport system is essential. Had the followup work on the metro project been done after 2014, it might have seen the light of day by now,” he said.

Tribune flyover project stuck in slow lane

The construction of a flyover, rotary and an underpass at the Tribune Chowk was approved in 2016, sanctioned and awarded by the Centre in 2019 at the cost of ₹184 crore. A Letter of Award (LoA) was also issued but the project was stalled, within weeks, after the Punjab and Haryana high court granted stay. However, in 2024, the court vacated the stay.