Centre clears Rs 1,878 crore Zirakpur bypass to ease traffic congestion

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The North News

Chandigarh, April 9

The Centre government has approved the construction of a six-lane access-controlled bypass around Zirakpur, a major traffic chokepoint near Chandigarh, in a bid to ease congestion across Punjab and Haryana’s critical highway network. The ₹1,878.31 crore project will span 19.2 kilometres and run from the junction of National Highway 7 (Zirakpur–Patiala) to National Highway 5 (Zirakpur–Parwanoo), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) said on Wednesday. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The bypass is part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, designed to create a more integrated and efficient transport infrastructure across India. The road will be built under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), combining public and private sector investment. By redirecting traffic away from the dense urban stretches of Zirakpur and Panchkula, the bypass aims to reduce travel time and alleviate the chronic gridlock that affects thousands of daily commuters between Punjab, Haryana and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

Officials say the bypass will benefit traffic from Patiala, Delhi and Chandigarh’s Mohali Aerocity, offering smoother access to Himachal Pradesh through the Parwanoo route. It also forms a key component of a larger effort to create a ring road system around the tri-city area of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali.

The new corridor is expected to significantly reduce pressure on NH-7, NH-5 and NH-152, making intercity travel safer and more reliable. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the project aligns with regional development plans and the Punjab government’s master plan.