Chandigarh clears Rs 176 crore projects, including elevated road to PGI

The Chandigarh administration’s appraisal committee has recommended infrastructure projects worth Rs 176 crore, including an elevated road towards PGI, a critical care hospital and a City Forest.

The three projects include an Rs 89-crore elevated road at Khudda Jassu and Khuda Lahora, a Rs 73.9-crore 50-bed Critical Care Hospital in Manimajra and a Rs 13.3-crore City Forest at the Sukhna Choe Reserve Forest.

The 1,280-metre, four-lane elevated road will connect Khudda Jassu and Khuda Lahora and is aimed at easing congestion and improving traffic movement, particularly towards the PGI approach.

The project will include RCC and precast structures, reinforced-earth walls, crash barriers, drainage, street lighting, pedestrian facilities and road-safety measures. The administration expects it to reduce travel time, fuel consumption and vehicular emissions while increasing road capacity.

The proposed Manimajra hospital, under PM-ABHIM, will add 50 critical-care beds, including a 16-bed ICU/HDU, 28-bed isolation ward and an eight-bed emergency and triage unit. It will also provide cardiac care, MRI, CT scan, X-ray, maternity and newborn care and dialysis facilities.

The Rs 13.32-crore City Forest at Sukhna Choe Reserve Forest will include nature trails, cycle tracks, elevated walkways, viewing platforms, an auditorium, open-air theatre, meditation huts and bird-watching facilities.

Officials said the focus will remain on protecting existing vegetation and limiting ecological disturbance.

The proposals will now move forward for administrative approval and financial sanction, subject to the observations made during the appraisal process. The chief secretary directed departments to complete the required formalities quickly.