Chandigarh MP Pushes Metro For Quad Cities

22 Apr 2026 CW Team

He questioned what traffic conditions might look like by 2036 and criticised fears that a metro would overwhelm Chandigarh, describing such concerns as unfounded. He added that the real economic growth was occurring on the periphery of Chandigarh rather than within the city and that residents of Chandigarh in the next five years would increasingly commute to adjoining areas for employment. He used social media to press the case and cited technical studies that have examined the project's feasibility.

He argued that if the states of Punjab and Haryana claim Chandigarh as their capital then both those states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh should provide funding to integrate the four cities into a seamless metropolitan area. He urged a joint financial commitment to bring the metro to fruition and noted that RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) has twice assessed the plan as feasible. He described the region as constrained by limited agriculture, minimal heavy industry and a weak services sector owing in part to the closure of the country's western border.

He suggested the metro could transform the quad cities into a research and innovation hub comparable to the Research Triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, positioning the area to capture frontier technologies and related investment that underpin the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He called on the relevant state governments and the Union Territory to collaborate on planning and funding so that the transport investment translates into jobs and sustainable growth. Officials and planners were urged to consider integrated metropolitan governance to realise the benefits.

Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Manish Tewari has urged development of a Mass Rapid Transport Project (MRTS) to connect Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and New Chandigarh as a single metropolitan area. He framed the proposal as more than a transport scheme and said it could unlock the region's economic potential and act as a mercantile multiplier. His intervention came amid concerns about current traffic and future growth in the region. He questioned what traffic conditions might look like by 2036 and criticised fears that a metro would overwhelm Chandigarh, describing such concerns as unfounded. He added that the real economic growth was occurring on the periphery of Chandigarh rather than within the city and that residents of Chandigarh in the next five years would increasingly commute to adjoining areas for employment. He used social media to press the case and cited technical studies that have examined the project's feasibility. He argued that if the states of Punjab and Haryana claim Chandigarh as their capital then both those states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh should provide funding to integrate the four cities into a seamless metropolitan area. He urged a joint financial commitment to bring the metro to fruition and noted that RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) has twice assessed the plan as feasible. He described the region as constrained by limited agriculture, minimal heavy industry and a weak services sector owing in part to the closure of the country's western border. He suggested the metro could transform the quad cities into a research and innovation hub comparable to the Research Triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, positioning the area to capture frontier technologies and related investment that underpin the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He called on the relevant state governments and the Union Territory to collaborate on planning and funding so that the transport investment translates into jobs and sustainable growth. Officials and planners were urged to consider integrated metropolitan governance to realise the benefits.

Resources

04 Jun 2026

ULCCS Showcases Cooperative Model at UN Symposium

Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) showcased its community-led development model at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where it participated as a panellist at the International Symposium on Cooperative Financial Institutions held on 28–29 May 2026.Jointly organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the International Cooperative Banking Association (ICBA), and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the symposium was held under the theme ‘Fuelling Inclusive and Equitable Growth’ and brought together policymakers,..

Infrastructure Transport

04 Jun 2026

Delhi Airport to Finalise 20-Year Master Plan

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is finalising a 20-year master plan to guide long term infrastructure and operational development at Indira Gandhi International Airport, an official said. The operator expects the plan to reflect changes in the airline industry, shifts in the competitive landscape and evolving infrastructure requirements across terminals, airside and support services. The official said the document is likely to be ready in the next two to two-and-a-half months as the operator moves through planning stages. The plan will be prepared after consultations with airport users ..

Real Estate

04 Jun 2026

Aadhar Housing Finance Targets Rs 500 bn AUM By FY29

Aadhar Housing Finance has set a target to raise its asset under management to Rs 500 billion (bn) by the end of FY29, aiming to achieve this over the next three financial years through an 18-20 per cent loan growth trajectory. The firm focuses on the low-income segment with a ticket size of less than Rs 1.5 million (mn) and has relied on that segment to drive expansion. The company closed FY26 with an AUM of Rs 305.71 bn, reflecting the expansion in recent years, and it reported a net profit rise of 22 per cent to Rs 11.08 bn. Management indicated that gross non-performing assets stood at 1.0..