Chandigarh Metro Project: Chandigarh MP and senior Congress leader Manish Tewari has posed a blunt and pressing question to the Union Territory Administration and the governments of Punjab and Haryana: Do you want Metro or not? The question arises amid a prolonged delay in submitting the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Chandigarh Metro, even two years after the formation of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA).
In a recent statement, Tewari expressed his deep frustration over the bureaucratic inertia that continues to stall the much-needed Metro project for Chandigarh and its periphery towns—Mohali, New Chandigarh, and Panchkula. Citing an official reply to his question in Parliament, Tewari highlighted the inefficiency of the UMTA, which, despite its existence since April 2023, has held only three meetings and still failed to deliver a DPR.
Manish Tewari believes the delay is more than administrative oversight; it’s a question of political will and public accountability. He demanded a clear ‘yes or no’ from the stakeholders. “Procrastination and excuses are no longer acceptable. The people deserve clarity and action,” he said.
Responding to his unstarred question, the Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu confirmed that no DPR has been submitted to the Centre yet. The Minister stated that while policies and frameworks like the National Urban Transport Policy (2006) and Metro Rail Policy (2017) are in place to support such initiatives, the responsibility to initiate and plan the project lies with the UT and state governments. Financial assistance will be considered only when a feasible and formally proposed DPR is received.
Tewari emphasized that the Metro is not merely a transportation convenience but a potential economic catalyst. According to him, the project could transform the region by unlocking commercial opportunities, reducing road congestion, and promoting sustainable urban growth. “Metro is a need, not a luxury,” he added.
The delay also stems from pending work by RITES, the consultancy firm tasked with drafting the feasibility report. While RITES had submitted a scenario analysis report (SAR) to the UT Administration, key gaps in data interpretation, ridership projections, economic analysis, and overall viability left officials unconvinced. A revised report was requested on June 17, but it is still awaited.
The initial SAR included detailed assessments like traffic analysis, demand forecasts, power supply planning, and financial returns. However, the report failed to explain critical elements such as the methodology used for ridership calculations, inconsistencies in scenario summaries, and the impact of isolated corridors on the overall viability of the network.
The lack of a solid justification for the projected 3% annual traffic growth rate, absence of operational ratio figures, and questionable reliability of software modelling further raised red flags. Moreover, the report did not include a conversion factor for estimating actual boarders from PHPDT or compare real vs. projected ridership, as noted in past audits like the CAG report.
With cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad already benefiting from operational Metro networks, the delay in Chandigarh’s project appears increasingly indefensible. Tewari argued that bureaucratic foot-dragging must end, and political leadership from all sides should rise to meet the region’s long-term needs.
The clock is ticking, and the residents of Chandigarh, Mohali, New Chandigarh, and Panchkula deserve better than indecision. A modern, efficient, and economically viable Metro system could redefine public transport and urban development for the region—if only the concerned governments decide to act.