The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a stay on the felling of trees for the Tribune Chowk flyover project. The Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjeev Berry, emphasized that the matter had already been heard and is expected to be resolved soon. Consequently, the Chandigarh Administration and other parties involved are directed to refrain from cutting down any trees, especially mango trees, near Tribune Chowk.
Petitioners, including Jagwant Bath, have expressed environmental concerns and objected to the tree-cutting activities. They have also criticized Chandigarh’s actions, claiming that they are detrimental to the city’s heritage. The petitioners have pointed out that the Chandigarh Master Plan of 2031, a legally binding document, does not endorse the construction of flyovers within the city. Instead, it advocates for exploring alternative traffic management solutions.
The Department of Urban Planning initially opposed the flyover project, citing inconsistencies with the Master Plan. However, Chandigarh received approval from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to proceed with the construction. The flyover, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion at Tribune Chowk, has encountered delays, leading to a significant cost escalation from Rs 137 crore in 2019 to Rs 200 crore presently, marking a 45% increase over seven years.
The flyover project, conceptualized in 2016, aims to ease traffic flow at the Tribune roundabout, a crucial entry point to the city. Spanning 1.6 kilometers, the proposed flyover will commence after the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 roundabout and terminate before the railway overbridge on Dakshin Marg.
