CHANDIGARH: In a move that is expected to speed up implementation of the much-awaited Tricity Metro project in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, UT administration will hold its first Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) meeting under the chairmanship of newly-appointed UT administrator and Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria on September 2.
Detailed agenda for the meeting includes the Alternative Analysis Report (AAR) prepared by Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES).
Notice of the meeting, along with schedule and agenda, has been sent to all members of UMTA, mainly state governments of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Crucial agenda items expected to be deliberated upon in the meeting are confirmation of land for depots in areas of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, consent for topographical survey along areas of the Vidhan Sabha in the Capitol Complex, approval of the underground corridors of an approximate length of 16.5 kilometres on decided routes, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) not sharing required utility data and approval of modified MRTS corridors, extending from the previous around 79.5 kilometres to 85.65 kilometres due to modifications as per technical requirements.
“Since decisions on key agendas or subjects and detailed report of the AAR fall under the domain of UMTA, the meeting is crucial to increase the pace of the Tricity metro project in the days to come. Several aspects of the project, including financial, infrastructure and consultation, have to be discussed with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) of the central government but before that, UMTA’s decisions and unanimity of the three key stakeholders — Chandigarh administration, Haryana and Punjab governments are very important,” sources said.One of the most important parts of the over 150-page Alternative Analysis Report (AAR) report is increase of the length of the Metro corridor from 79.50 kilometres to 85.65 kilometres.
“The around 6.15 kilometre extension of length has been made on two routes of the project, from Zirkpur bus stand to Panchkula and from Sukhna Lake to Sector 43 ISBT. Alignment of the route and practical viability of the space has been kept in mind while making the extension. After extensions on both routes, Chandigarh will have 40.235 kilometre route in its jurisdiction within the city, while the area of Mohali district, comprising Mohali and New Chandigarh, will have 31.750 kilometres. The route in Panchkula district of Haryana will be 13.665 kilometre long. Details of each area and its jurisdiction have been minutely specified in the Alternative Analysis Report (AAR) report,” sources said.
