NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 — The long-delayed Chandigarh Metro project continues to face bureaucratic hurdles, with the Centre informing the Lok Sabha that the detailed project report (DPR) is still awaited from the Chandigarh Administration.
In a written reply to questions raised by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari during the ongoing Parliament session, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs confirmed that the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), set up to coordinate the metro project, has convened only three meetings since its formation over 27 months ago.
According to the ministry, UMTA was formally constituted by the Chandigarh Administration on April 28, 2023. Since then, meetings have been held on July 18, 2023, December 13, 2023, and most recently on September 2, 2024.
Tewari had sought clarity on several aspects of the project, including the number of UMTA meetings, the status of the latest feasibility study by Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), and whether any joint proposal had been submitted by Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. He also questioned the timeline for DPR submission and details of any cost-sharing formula among stakeholders.
Responding to these queries, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said no DPR had been submitted to the Centre to date. He also said that no cost estimates or financial collaboration details have been provided by the concerned authorities.
The ministry reiterated that urban transport planning is the responsibility of state governments and Union Territories, while the Centre acts in an advisory role through policy frameworks such as the National Urban Transport Policy (2006), the Metro Rail Policy (2017), and the Transit-Oriented Development Policy (2017). Financial assistance, it noted, is considered only after receiving concrete proposals.
Meanwhile, traffic congestion in the tricity region—Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula—continues to worsen. A fresh feasibility report submitted by RITES in June this year deemed the project economically viable. However, in February, then Haryana Transport Additional Chief Secretary Ashok Khemka directed RITES to revisit its annual ridership estimate of 11.3 lakh passengers.
In April, the Centre had also stated in Parliament that no DPR had been submitted despite positive indications from the feasibility study.
The cost of the metro project is expected to play a critical role in determining its future. Early estimates suggest the total expenditure could range between ₹25,000 crore and ₹30,000 crore, depending on the proportion of underground versus elevated tracks.
Phase 1, which spans 85.65 km, includes both elevated and underground segments. Of this, 16.5 km of the route is planned underground in Chandigarh’s heritage sectors. If approved, construction is expected to begin in 2027 with completion targeted by 2032.
