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PGIMER–Sarangpur and Tribune Chowk flyovers to cut travel time in Chandigarh

After years of planning delays, court hurdles and rising costs, the Chandigarh Administration’s long-awaited push to ease traffic congestion is beginning to move towards execution, with two major flyover projects — at PGIMER-Sarangpur and Tribune Chowk — emerging as the centrepieces of the city’s mobility strategy. Both projects are aimed at decongesting some of the […]

4 min readChandigarhFeb 6, 2026 12:12 PM IST

Two long-delayed flyover projects at PGIMER–Sarangpur and Tribune Chowk are set to anchor Chandigarh Administration’s renewed push to decongest city traffic. (Representational Image)

After years of planning delays, court hurdles and rising costs, the Chandigarh Administration’s long-awaited push to ease traffic congestion is beginning to move towards execution, with two major flyover projects — at PGIMER-Sarangpur and Tribune Chowk — emerging as the centrepieces of the city’s mobility strategy.

Both projects are aimed at decongesting some of the most traffic-heavy corridors in the city, where peak-hour snarls have become routine and travel times increasingly unpredictable.
As per UT officials, the flyovers are designed to segregate through-traffic from local movement, a step expected to improve average vehicular speeds once operational.

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Tribune Chowk flyover: Closest to construction

The Tribune Chowk flyover, envisaged as a grade-separated junction to streamline traffic between Panchkula, the Industrial Area and central Chandigarh, has reached the near-final stage of tendering. The project has received final financial approval at a revised cost of approximately Rs 247 crore, reflecting escalation from the original 2019 estimate due to delays, litigation and rising input costs.

According to officials, technical bids submitted by prospective contractors have already been evaluated, and the financial bids are expected to be opened shortly. The project will be executed under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model, under which the selected contractor will be responsible for design finalisation, construction and commissioning.

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UT officials indicated that if the tendering process proceeds as scheduled, on-ground construction of the Tribune Chowk flyover is likely to begin by mid-2026. With an estimated execution period of about 30 months, the flyover is expected to be completed and opened to traffic by late 2028 or early 2029, subject to uninterrupted execution and availability of work fronts.

The flyover is expected to rationalise traffic movement at Tribune Chowk, which currently handles a mix of local, inter-city and industrial traffic, often resulting in long queues and frequent bottlenecks.

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PGIMER-Sarangpur flyover: revived after prolonged delay

The PGIMER-Sarangpur flyover, linking the hospital zone with the northern periphery, is projected as a comparatively quicker intervention. The stretch witnesses sustained traffic pressure due to hospital-related movement, institutional traffic and vehicles headed towards Sarangpur and adjoining areas.

After remaining stalled for several years, the project has recently moved forward following design refinements and in-principle clearances. The estimated project cost stands at around Rs 90 crore.

UT officials said the drawing and design phase is nearing completion, after which tenders will be floated. If the contract is awarded on schedule, construction is expected to begin later this year. With a construction timeline of around 18 months, the PGIMER-Sarangpur flyover is expected to be ready for commuter use by early 2027.

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Explaining the technical rationale behind the projects, C B Ojha, Chief Engineer, Chandigarh Administration, said the flyovers were being planned as long-term solutions rather than isolated structures.

Both flyovers have been designed to reduce traffic conflict points and allow uninterrupted movement of traffic. Once operational, they are expected to cut travel time across these corridors and improve overall traffic flow in the city, he said.

The detailed drawings and structural designs are in the final stages. After this process is completed, tenders will be floated, and construction work will commence in a phased and time-bound manner, Ojha added.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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