UT seeks land demarcation for Khuda Lahora flyover

Deepak.Yadav@timesofindia.comChandigarh: In order to finalise land requirements for the proposed flyover at the Khuda Lahora stretch on Madhya Marg, the UT engineering department has written to the DC office, seeking detailed demarcation of land. The exercise is aimed at clearly identifying the exact area required for construction and addressing issues of any encroachments on or around the project site.Although authorities recently cleared temporary encroachments from parts of the identified stretch, officials said a comprehensive and official demarcation is essential before going ahead with the project. This will help eliminate ambiguities related to land ownership and boundaries.Chief engineer C B Ojha said while the stretch falls under the jurisdiction of the engineering department, demarcation by the estate office is crucial to ensure precise measurements and to avoid any land-related disputes during implementation.“It is important to ascertain the exact extent of land required and identify encroachments, so that no hurdles arise once project work begins,” he said.Meanwhile, the consultant appointed for the flyover project has completed the ground survey and is expected to submit a draft detailed project report (DPR) next month. The DPR will include technical specifications such as design, structural details, length, width and the number of pillars required.The proposed project involves construction of a four-lane flyover spanning approximately 1.1km of Madhya Marg, with nearly half the stretch elevated. Estimated to cost between Rs 80 crore and Rs 85 crore, the project does not require approval from the central govt, and the UT administration is authorised to take decisions regarding its execution.Officials said that if the process progresses as planned, the tender for the project is likely to be floated in two to three months.The project has already received clearance from the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee, which advised ensuring that the design does not interfere with the city’s sectoral grid. The Road Safety Committee has also recommended construction of a flyover at this location.Box: Need to ease trafficThe stretch of Madhya Marg where the flyover is proposed serves as a key link between Chandigarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, connecting routes towards New Chandigarh, Mullanpur, Kurali and Baddi. The area witnesses frequent traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours. Khuda Lahora village, located along the stretch, has a dense population, and all local traffic currently merges onto Madhya Marg, contributing to chaos and delays. The proposed flyover is expected to ease congestion and improve traffic flow in the area.Box: A long time coming--The proposal for a flyover at the Khuda Lahora stretch of Madhya Marg has been under discussion within the Chandigarh administration for several years due to persistent traffic congestion on the corridor linking Chandigarh with New Chandigarh, Mullanpur, Kurali and Baddi--The issue was repeatedly flagged during meetings of the Road Safety Committee, where officials stressed the need for grade separation to reduce bottlenecks and improve commuter safety on the busy stretch--Earlier, the administration explored multiple traffic-management solutions for the area, including redesigning junctions, regulating traffic movement and widening stretches of the road before reviving the flyover proposal as a long-term solution--Installation of traffic lights on the bridge did not help much with the traffic situation either--The project gained momentum after the administration appointed a consultant to conduct traffic studies and prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed structure-- Ground surveys and feasibility assessments were carried out to determine technical requirements such as alignment, length, pillar placement and traffic dispersal plans--The proposal was also placed before the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee, which cleared the project while advising that the flyover design should not disturb Chandigarh’s sectoral grid and urban character