Explore PPP model for Metro, recommends RITES to Chandigarh admin

Meanwhile as the Chandigarh administration has to prepare the Alternative Analysis Report (AAR) and Detailed Project Report (DPR), it has decided to bring Punjab, Haryana too on the board.

More than 14 years after a back and forth on the need of Metro, an approval for Tricity area was given for the project after both Punjab and Haryana governments agreed for it. (Representative/ Express file photo by Amit Chakravarty)

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RITES, an engineering CPSE has suggested Chandigarh administration to explore the public-private partnership (PPP) model for the Metro project in the Tricity. This model, it was said, would reduce the overall cost of the project.

In a meeting of the Union Territory (UT) administration held on the Comprehensive Mobility Plan for the Tricity, RITES said that all “forms of PPP are encouraged by the government”.

“RITES stated that the private participation could be unbundled in non-core activities such as Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system, etc,”a senior official of the administration said.

During the meeting, a RITES team also made a presentation on policies, guidelines and procedure for planning Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in lines with the Metro Rail Policy issued by Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

UMTA meeting on July 18

Meanwhile as the UT administration has to prepare the Alternative Analysis Report (AAR) and Detailed Project Report (DPR), it has decided to bring Punjab, Haryana too on the board.

To expedite the project, a meeting of the Unified Metro Transportation Authority (UMTA) has been scheduled for July 18 with all stakeholders, including officials from Punjab and Haryana.

Under the AAR, the best alternative mode to meet the transportation demand on major travel corridors would be found out, including Metro, “Metrolite” or “MetroNeo”, while DPR report would be prepared for approval of the project by the Central government. DPR mainly includes planning, design, cost estimates, financials, institutional arrangement and implementation plan for the best recommended MRTS mode.

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Once both the reports are prepared, all the three set of assessments, including the Comprehensive Mobility Plan would be sent to the concerned ministry for approval. The Centre will then take a call on whether the particular project suits the city and the financial viability of the same.

A wait of 14 years

More than 14 years after a back and forth on the need of Metro, an approval for Tricity area was given for the project after both Punjab and Haryana governments agreed for it.

In a high-powered meeting with Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh in March, Metro rail project was approved for Chandigarh and Tricity area of which majority part would be in Mohali in Punjab, followed by Chandigarh and Panchkula in Haryana.

RITES agency was hired to conduct a feasibility study of the traffic scenario in and around Chandigarh. According to the detailed plan prepared by the RITES of the total of stretch 48 km, 38 km would be completed in the first phase and 10 km in the second phase.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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