Originally approved by the Ministry on February 11, 2019, the Tribune Chowk flyover project was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 183.74 crore. (Express Archives: Jaipal Singh)The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has granted in-principle approval for a revised project estimate of Rs 240 crore for the construction of the Tribune Chowk flyover, officials confirmed. The clearance came during a high-level meeting between officials from the Ministry and the Union Territory Administration held in New Delhi.The approval allows the Chandigarh Administration to proceed with issuing a fresh tender for the project, which had been stalled for several years. According to officials, once the contract is awarded, construction is expected to take 16 to 18 months.Originally approved by the Ministry on February 11, 2019, the Tribune Chowk project was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 183.74 crore, and work was awarded shortly after, on February 19, 2019. The project includes the construction of a 1.6-kilometre six-lane flyover, along with a rotary and an underpass, aimed at decongesting the ever-busy Tribune intersection.The flyover is planned to start about 200 metres after the GMCH-32 roundabout, crossing over Tribune Chowk on National Highway-5, and extending up to 300 metres beyond the existing railway overbridge on Dakshin Marg. Once completed, the elevated road is expected to significantly ease vehicular pressure at the Tribune Chowk, which currently handles a daily traffic volume of more than 1.43 lakh vehicles, including over 1.35 lakh passenger car units (PCUs).The project, however, faced delays due to environmental concerns. In response to a petition filed by the Run Club, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had imposed a stay on the felling of nearly 700 trees required for construction along the Dakshin and Purv Marg corridors. This stay, granted on November 20, 2019, effectively stalled progress for several years. A turning point came on May 1 this year, when the High Court lifted the stay.Following the court’s green signal and taking into account updated construction rates and inflation, the UT Engineering Department submitted a revised cost estimate of Rs 245 crore to the Ministry in May. The Centre’s approval of Rs 240 crore clears the way for long-awaited progress on the project.With fresh tenders expected shortly, the Tribune Chowk flyover is now poised to move from the drawing board to execution — offering long-term traffic relief and improved connectivity between Zirakpur and Chandigarh once completed.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd