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Chandigarh in transition: new Mayor, smart parking, ring road and e-buses on the way

From civic leadership and transport reforms to power upgrades, the city braces for a year of long-pending projects taking off

4 min readChandigarhJan 1, 2026 09:12 PM IST

Chandigarh, Mayor election, smart parking project, Zirakpur ring road,

The National Highways Authority of India has revived the Zirakpur ring road project, stalled for nearly 15 years. (File photo)

Chandigarh is set for a series of civic and infrastructure changes in the coming weeks, beginning with the election of a new Mayor in the first week of January.

The city will elect its Mayor for a one-year term from among the elected councillors of the General House. The nine nominated councillors do not have voting rights. The sole ex-officio voter is MP Manish Tewari. BJP councillor Harpreet Babla, the current Mayor, will complete her term in January.

Smart parking project to roll out

The long-awaited smart parking project is likely to be rolled out this year, with all 89 paid parking sites in the city proposed to be brought under a unified system. Tenders are expected to be floated shortly.

The project will be FASTag-based with fully digital payments. Commuters will be able to check parking availability and book slots in advance before starting their journey, a move aimed at easing congestion in busy commercial areas.

Zirakpur ring road revived after 15 years

The National Highways Authority of India has revived the Zirakpur ring road project, stalled for nearly 15 years. Construction is expected to begin this year, with completion targeted within two years.

The project aims to decongest Chandigarh by providing an alternative route for Shimla-bound traffic from Ambala. The proposed six-lane bypass, approximately 16.5-km long and 200-foot wide, will begin at the Patiala–Zirakpur light point near the airport and end at the old Panchkula light point.

The alignment will pass near McDonald’s on the Ambala–Zirakpur highway, traverse Peer Muchalla, Sanoli, Gazipur and Nagla villages in Mohali, and merge with the dividing road between Sectors 20 and 21 in Panchkula.

Entire city bus fleet to go electric

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By the end of the year, Chandigarh is expected to operate an entirely electric city bus fleet. Pradhuman Singh, director (transport), Chandigarh Administration, said the city currently has 80 electric buses, with 100 more expected shortly, apart from 328 additional buses already approved.

Under the PM-e-Bus Service Scheme, 328 electric buses have been sanctioned for Chandigarh, taking the total number of approved e-buses to 428, including those already operational. The UT Transport Department plans to replace all its 358 diesel buses in the Tricity with electric ones.

Each electric bus has seating for 35 passengers and standing space for 20. The buses are equipped with passenger information screens, pneumatically controlled doors, panic buttons for emergencies, mobile charging points at each row and rear air suspension.

Power distribution reforms gather pace

Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL) will introduce monthly electricity billing from January 1 in an effort to improve consumer services. The new bills will carry consumer details in a masked format, a QR code for quick access, and CPDL’s official contact information.

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To strengthen the power supply network, CPDL plans a capital expenditure of Rs 60 to 70 crore for infrastructure upgrades. Three new power transformers, two of 20 MVA and one of 12.5 MVA, will be installed along with 200 additional distribution transformers. New 11 KV feeders and thick forest feeders will be laid underground, while outdated equipment at grid substations will be phased out by 2027.

Around 70,000 smart meters will be installed for high-tension connections, large supply consumers and all three-phase connections. CPDL will also employ around 50 women for meter reading this year. Employees transferred from EWEDC will undergo structured training.

A Safety Training Centre will be set up in Industrial Area Phase II, while a NABL-accredited meter testing laboratory will be established in Sector 56. The SCADA system is expected to become fully operational within two years, enabling centralised control and unmanned substations.

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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