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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
PGI-Sarangpur traffic chaos: Chandigarh admn offers double-decker fix for Metro-flyover clash
As a solution to the clash between the proposed Metro corridor and a flyover plan on the PGIMER-Sarangpur stretch, the UT engineering department has suggested a double-decker structure — with one level for the Metro track and another for vehicular traffic. The proposal was discussed in a review meeting on Tuesday, chaired by UT chief engineer CB Ojha, where officials from Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) were urged to consider the dual-layer road design for the area, which has been identified by the Road Safety Committee as a major bottleneck. In its latest report, shared in April, the Road Safety Committee stated that traffic jams, lack of footpaths (forcing pedestrians onto roads), roadside parking, encroachments by shops, waterlogging during monsoon, U-turns at junctions and autos halting mid-road to pick up passengers had collectively turned the stretch into a critical chokepoint. According to initial plans prepared by the UT engineering department, the flyover was to be constructed at a cost of around ₹90 crore, running 1.75 km in length, with a 1.3-km elevated stretch. At the Tuesday meeting, Ojha also directed RITES to incorporate observations from the scenario report on the Metro project, which was submitted last month. RITES has now been asked to expedite its work and submit the final report. In its scenario report, RITES stated that the Metro project was financially viable for the tricity, though it may take at least a decade for the system to achieve profitability. The report drew comparisons with Metro systems in Ahmedabad, Kochi, Jaipur and Noida, noting that such projects were typically evaluated over a 30-year operational horizon. Using the Ahmedabad Metro as a case study, the report pointed out that recovering capital investment may take at least five years, and highlighted unforeseen disruptions like the Covid-19 pandemic that delayed business recovery after its launch in 2019. During a committee meeting held in March, former Haryana transport additional chief secretary Ashok Khemka had asked RITES to re-examine its ridership estimate of 11.3 lakh passengers annually. The revised report was subsequently submitted in May. The eight-member expert committee, constituted in November last year, was entrusted with evaluating the financial viability of the Tricity Metro project. The final report is expected to be submitted by mid-July to UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, who will present it before the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), the body responsible for coordinating urban mobility initiatives across the tricity region. Last year in November, Union minister for power, housing and urban affairs Manohar Lal Khattar had expressed concerns over the project's ridership levels. He had warned that inadequate ridership could affect the long-term viability of the Metro system in Chandigarh. 'Ridership in Chandigarh does not appear to meet the threshold required for a viable Metro system,' he noted, urging the consideration of alternative transport solutions such as pod taxis.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Metro project back on track with positive viability report
Chandigarh: Still chugging along in the "planning" stage, the Metro project received a fresh green signal from Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) in its latest, "Scenario Analysis Report" (SSR). In the report, RITES pegged the economic internal rate of return (EIRR) between 14.35% and 32.33%, indicating the economic viability of the metro for the Tricity. The EIRR indicates the financial viability of a project and the economic activity or return on investment it will generate. According to the Centre's, Metro Policy, 2017, "While appraising such project proposals, the economic and social viability may be assessed. The economic internal rate of return for any metro rail project proposal should be 14% and above for consideration of its approval." The financial internal rate of return (FIRR) for all corridors ranges between 1.7% (where corridor 3 is underground) and 4% (where corridor 3 is elevated), according to the figures submitted in the SSR. By 2031, the daily ridership of the metro is estimated to reach 6.5 lakh, and by 2056, it is pegged at 11.30 lakh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo A discussion on the report was held Chandigarh Administration officials and RITES on Tuesday. During the meeting, chaired by UT chief engineer, C B Ojha, the administration sought further clarifications from RITES on aspects of the report, like ridership figures. If satisfied with the RITES responses, the report will be examined at the level of the eight-member committee constituted to examine the financial viability of the metro. The SSR report was submitted to the eight-member committee constituted by the Punjab governor and UT administrator, Gulab Chand Kataria in November, 2024. The committee, which was constituted to assess the financial viability of the Tricity Metro project, met twice earlier this year. In the meeting held in February this year, the committee directed RITES to provide clarifications on ridership, fare revisions, and traffic growth estimates. Earlier, the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), in January 2024, gave in-principle nod to the proposed metro routes. RITES proposed an 85.65km metro project for the Tricity in phase 1. It will have three corridors. Corridor-1 has been proposed from Paroul, New Chandigarh to Sector 28, Panchkula via Railway Station. Corridor-2 will be from Sukhna Lake to Sector 21, Panchkula via Chandigarh Airport and ISBT, Zirakpur. Corridor-3 is proposed to start from Grain Market Chowk to Transport Light Chowk. Revenue and cost estimates Revenue As per the SRR, the metro will earn a total revenue of Rs 1,369 crore by 2031 and Rs 8,182 crore by 2056. The fare box revenue of the metro is estimated to be Rs 1,245 crore by 2031. It will increase to Rs 7,431 crore by 2056. Fare box revenue is the income generated by the metro from fares paid by passengers. The non-fare box revenue will be Rs 124 crore by 2031 and Rs 743 crore by 2056. Costs Completion cost of the metro is pegged at Rs 25,631 crore to Rs 30,498 crore, depending on whether an elevated or underground network is opted for. Operation and maintenance (O&M) cost for the project will range between Rs 631 crore and Rs 697 crore by 2031. By the year 2056, O&M costs will range between Rs 3,787 crore and Rs 4,071 crore. 'Cost is decisive factor' In an exclusive interview with Times of India in May this year, Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, stated, "The key to the effectiveness of the public transport system is its affordability. People will opt for public transport if it is affordable. With a small percentage of the estimated cost of the metro, I can run so many new buses in the city and even run these for free for the public!" MSID:: 121914412 413 |
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UT sets up efficient energy mgmt cell
Chandigarh: In a significant stride towards sustainable development, Chandigarh has elevated the energy efficiency standards of its govt infrastructure. CB Ojha, chief engineer of UT administration, Sunday said an energy management cell, state designated agency (SDA), has been set up under the engineering department to promote energy conservation and efficiency. In recognition of the critical importance of energy efficiency, a State Energy Efficiency Action Plan was prepared by the SDA in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), New Delhi, and was subsequently approved by the administrator, UT Chandigarh, last August. In accordance with the measures outlined in the Action Plan, Chandigarh administration initiated the replacement of conventional electrical light fittings and HVAC systems in existing govt buildings with energy-efficient alternatives. To validate the energy savings achieved, the SDA, under the Star Rating Programme of the BEE, actively participated in benchmarking the energy performance of govt buildings. The BEE gives star ratings based on the Energy Performance Index (EPI), where a 1-Star rating indicates the least energy savings and a 5-Star rating represents the highest level of energy efficiency. As a result of these efforts, five govt buildings — including Deluxe Building and Additional Deluxe Building, Sector 9D — got star ratings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The Deluxe Building, which previously held 2 stars, and the Additional Deluxe Building, previously unrated, have now both achieved 4-star ratings. These improvements are attributed to significant enhancements in energy performance, including optimised lighting systems, improved HVAC operations, and the adoption of advanced energy management practices. The chief engineer further said Paryavaran Bhawan, Sector 19, has been awarded a 5-Star Rating in recognition of its exemplary energy performance. In addition, the NITTTR Building and the former Smart City Limited Office Building have also earned 5 star ratings. Chandigarh: In a significant stride towards sustainable development, Chandigarh has elevated the energy efficiency standards of its govt infrastructure. CB Ojha, chief engineer of UT administration, Sunday said an energy management cell, state designated agency (SDA), has been set up under the engineering department to promote energy conservation and efficiency. In recognition of the critical importance of energy efficiency, a State Energy Efficiency Action Plan was prepared by the SDA in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), New Delhi, and was subsequently approved by the administrator, UT Chandigarh, last August. In accordance with the measures outlined in the Action Plan, Chandigarh administration initiated the replacement of conventional electrical light fittings and HVAC systems in existing govt buildings with energy-efficient alternatives. To validate the energy savings achieved, the SDA, under the Star Rating Programme of the BEE, actively participated in benchmarking the energy performance of govt buildings. The BEE gives star ratings based on the Energy Performance Index (EPI), where a 1-Star rating indicates the least energy savings and a 5-Star rating represents the highest level of energy efficiency. As a result of these efforts, five govt buildings — including Deluxe Building and Additional Deluxe Building, Sector 9D — got star ratings. The Deluxe Building, which previously held 2 stars, and the Additional Deluxe Building, previously unrated, have now both achieved 4-star ratings. These improvements are attributed to significant enhancements in energy performance, including optimised lighting systems, improved HVAC operations, and the adoption of advanced energy management practices. The chief engineer further said Paryavaran Bhawan, Sector 19, has been awarded a 5-Star Rating in recognition of its exemplary energy performance. In addition, the NITTTR Building and the former Smart City Limited Office Building have also earned 5 star ratings.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Shelved PGI-Sarangpur flyover back on the table after two years
Over two years after the proposed flyover from PGIMER to Sarangpur was put on hold, the UT Road Safety Committee has recommended its immediate revival, stressing the need to alleviate the escalating traffic chaos in the area. The recommendation comes following a fresh survey conducted on the directions of deputy commissioner-cum-committee chairperson Nishant Kumar Yadav. At a recent meeting of the committee, the most urgent recommendation was the construction of a grade-separated (elevated) flyover from PGIMER to the Botanical Garden in Sarangpur to ease traffic congestion. The project was initially proposed in 2020 and a geotechnical study was also conducted. The UT-appointed technical consultant, General Highways and Infracon Pvt Ltd, had submitted a detailed report on the feasibility of the project. However, in February 2023, the proposal was shelved after a Metro corridor was planned along the same route. Stretch a critical chokepoint, says road safety committee While the long-awaited Metro project has failed to pick up speed ever since, in its latest report, the Road Safety Committee stated that traffic jams, lack of footpaths (forcing pedestrians onto roads), roadside parking, encroachments by shops, waterlogging during monsoon, U-turns at junctions and autos halting mid-road to pick up passengers had collectively turned the stretch into a critical chokepoint. The committee recommended a grade-separated flyover from PGIMER to Botanical Garden, shifting the boundary wall of the nearby school to create a walkable footpath, immediate removal of roadside encroachments, installation of 5-6 sets of rumble strips (15 mm thick, every 50 metres), creation of a designated school zone and widening the current road to 200 feet for Mullanpur-bound traffic. UT chief engineer CB Ojha said the administration was awaiting the official minutes of the committee meeting. 'Once received, we will move ahead with the planning,' he said. When asked about the Metro alignment along the same stretch, Ojha stated, 'Our current priority is to decongest traffic on this stretch.' According to initial plans prepared by the UT engineering department, the project was to be constructed at a cost of around ₹90 crore, running 1.75 km in length, with a 1.3-km elevated stretch. It was to start from near PGIMER and end near Botanical Garden, Sarangpur, after crossing over Khudda Jassu and Khudda Lahora villages. The planned total width of the flyover is around 19.1 metres and the carriageway width will be 17.5 metres. 'The administration had planned to provide a four-lane elevated highway in Khudda Lahora village in order to provide hassle-free movement of traffic from PGIMER side (Madhya Marg) towards Sarangpur, Kurali and Baddi,' said another senior UT official. The revived proposal is expected to be taken up on priority, given the worsening traffic situation and recurring congestion along this vital corridor.
