Why Punjab’s model city is turning into a ‘traffic jam’ capital

On January 9, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aashika Jain directed the PWD officials to follow-up on the proposals mooted for the upgradation of Chapparchiri Kalan to Chaparchiri Khurd (to decongest Landra-Kharar road) and Pabhat-Alipur-Nadiali-Dayalpura Link road that requires repair, immediately through DC office to provide alternate roads.

The DC also asked the officials of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), and municipal corporation (MC), and the district administration to oversee the road projects to decongest Mohali.

The troubling points

Landran light point: The Landran light point is located on Kharar-Banur road. The road is an access road to go to Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala and Kharar but during the peak hours, long jams can be seen on this light point.

Lakhnaur point: After crossing Landran light point, commuters again get stuck at Lakhnaur where haphazard parking outside the district court and absence of traffic regulations during the peak hours leave commuters irked.

Sunny Enclave intersection: The airport meets the Kharar highway at the intersection. In the last few months, the intersection has become a headache for the commuters due to heavy vehicular rush.
Kharar bus stand: One of the most busy and traffic-jam prone area is Kharar bus stand. The traffic, especially heavy trucks, coming from the Landran side converge at the light point resulting in long traffic jams.

Airport road: The airport road, which was constructed to give an easy passage for the commuters, has now turned out to be the most notorious road in the district. The road which connects New Chandigarh-Kharar- Mohali-Zirakpur is marred by the traffic jams almost at all the eleven light points on the road.

Zirakpur-Derabassi road is another eye sore as far as traffic jams are concerned. During the peak hours, long traffic jams could be witnessed on the road.

Increase in vehicle registration

One of the major reasons behind the traffic getting unmanageable is a steady rise in vehicle registration. In 2024, a total of 4,88,884 vehicles were registered in the district. In 2023, the district recorded registration of 4,65,789 vehicles. In the past five years, around 11 lakh vehicles have been added to the district.

MC’s long-term solution

In November last year, the MC proposed a long-term strategy to decongest the city. The strategy included a comprehensive study that was needed by a reputed institution to prepare the decongestion plan and mobility proposal based on traffic movement, existing infrastructure and projected population. Following were its recommendations:

1. Mohali and GMADA cluster may be considered under city bus services of the central government to provide e-buses for city.

2. MC will prepare Area Parking Plans as per Public Parking Policy issued by the LG in 2018

3. Identification of sites for dedicated public parking under the Master Plan of the GMADA. However care must be taken that parking should be treated as a commodity rather than a right.

4. Explore the viability of providing cycles and dedicated cycling track to public on PPP model.