The Chandigarh administration has cleared the long stalled Tribune Chowk flyover project after finalising a Panchkula based firm as the lowest bidder. The administration accepted a lowest bid of Rs 1,470 million (mn) from Singla Constructions and forwarded details to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for formal approval. Work is scheduled to begin in May and the project is to be completed within two years of formal allotment.

The scheme has been held up for seven years amid legal and environmental challenges that included a stay on tree felling imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The stay was lifted on May one last year and the engineering department revised the estimate to Rs 2,450 mn before putting the work to tender. Officials reported that twelve bids were received in February and Singla Constructions emerged as the L1 agency at the accepted bid.

The structure has been designed to span a one point six km stretch, beginning about 200 metres past the GMCH 32 roundabout, crossing Tribune Chowk on National Highway five and extending roughly 300 metres beyond the existing railway overbridge on Dakshin Marg. The plan was recommended to relieve severe congestion, with approximately zero point one five mn vehicles, including around zero point one three five mn passenger cars, reported to use the junction daily. The alignment and clearance requirements prompted prolonged deliberations.

Environmental concerns centred on the need to fell almost 700 trees along Dakshin Marg and Purv Marg, which initially delayed the scheme after a petition by the Run Club. Critics also questioned the change from an original estimate of Rs 8,500 mn to the accepted bid and some expressed disquiet about the chosen start point of the structure. Officials say formal communication from the ministry is awaited before contractors mobilise and detailed preparations are under way to meet the specified timeline.