New Delhi, March 23: Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu has called for the urgent development of a metro rail network to address the escalating traffic and population pressures in the Chandigarh Tricity region. Raising the issue during a special mention in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Sandhu stated that the area is expanding at an annual rate of over 8 percent, with the population projected to surpass 40 lakh by 2041.
The MP asserted that the proposed Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is no longer a matter of convenience but a critical necessity for regional growth. He maintained that without a modern transport system, the average vehicle speed in the Tricity—currently between 25 and 30 kmph—could drop below 15 kmph in the coming years. Sandhu noted that Chandigarh already holds the highest per capita vehicle density in the country, with 1,142 vehicles for every 1,000 residents, a figure nearly four times the national average.
The project, estimated to cost approximately Rs 25,000 crore, is designed to span 114 km across two phases. Sandhu affirmed that the first phase aims to connect Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula through three corridors by 2030. He declared that the network would serve as an ideal model for sustainable urban transport, eventually benefiting roughly 6.5 lakh daily passengers by 2031. The plan includes over 50 state-of-the-art stations linking industrial and educational hubs such as Kharar, Zirakpur, and Pinjore.
“The Chandigarh Tri-City area is expanding very rapidly,” Sandhu stated during the budget session. He maintained that under the current national leadership, the metro network in India has expanded from five cities to over 25, and urged the Central Government to prioritize the Tricity project. He affirmed that integrated connectivity would further strengthen the economic fabric of the surrounding towns in Punjab and Haryana.
