The long-pending Tricity Metro project connecting Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula has once again come under focus after the Chandigarh Administration sought clarity from the Punjab and Haryana governments on their stand.
The metro project has been under discussion for nearly 17 years, but it continues to face delays. Acting on directions from the Chief Secretary, the Administration has asked the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) to clarify the current status of the proposal and whether both states support moving forward with the plan.
The issue has also been raised multiple times in Parliament by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari. In response, the Central Government stated that it has not yet received any formal proposal regarding a metro project for the Tricity region.
Sources said the UT Administration has yet to finalize the feasibility report prepared by RITES Limited. Over the past year, both Punjab and Haryana governments have reportedly shown little progress on the matter.
The Punjab government is yet to take a final decision regarding land allocation for a proposed metro junction in Mullanpur. Meanwhile, the Haryana government has remained largely silent on the project since a change in leadership.
Chandigarh Chief Secretary H. Rajesh Prasad stated that UMTA has been asked to clearly outline the position of both states so that the Administration can decide its next course of action.
With this development, the future of the Tricity Metro project now largely depends on the response from the Punjab and Haryana governments.
