Final Clearance Unlocks Zirakpur–Panchkula Bypass: Tricity’s Biggest Traffic Relief Project Moves to Execution Stage

Published by: News Desk | Garah Pravesh

The long-awaited Zirakpur–Panchkula Bypass Project, one of North India’s most critical urban infrastructure developments, has finally received the decisive regulatory approval needed to move from paperwork to construction. After months of bureaucratic inertia and repeated tender delays, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted Stage-2 forest clearance to the ₹1,878-crore six-lane bypass, effectively removing the final legal bottleneck.

This clearance brings renewed momentum to a project that is expected to transform traffic flow across Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula, dramatically reduce congestion, curb vehicular pollution, and unlock massive real estate and economic growth along the Tricity corridor.

With all statutory permissions now in place, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to open technical bids and award the contract shortly, marking the beginning of on-ground execution for a project that has been over a decade in the making.

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🔑 Why the Zirakpur–Panchkula Bypass Matters

For residents, daily commuters, logistics operators, and real estate investors, the Zirakpur–Panchkula stretch has long symbolized traffic chaos, lost productivity, and rising emissions. The bypass is not just another road project—it is a strategic mobility intervention designed to untangle one of North India’s most congested highway nodes.

Key Objectives of the Project:

• Decongest NH-5 and NH-7

• Divert heavy inter-state traffic away from urban intersections

• Improve connectivity between Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Himachal Pradesh, Ambala, and Chandigarh Airport

• Serve as a vital segment of the proposed Tricity Ring Road

• Enhance road safety and reduce travel time for passengers and freight

🟢 Stage-2 Forest Clearance: The Final Green Signal

After receiving approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in April 2025, the project faced prolonged delays due to the absence of final forest clearance, a mandatory condition before awarding work.

What Has Changed Now?

• 17.57 hectares of forest land have been officially approved for diversion

• Clearance granted under strict environmental compliance norms

• Approval issued by the MoEFCC’s Integrated Regional Office (IRO), Chandigarh

• The decision followed formal consent from the Punjab Forests Minister, based on recommendations by the Forest Department

This clearance closes the final regulatory chapter, allowing NHAI to proceed without legal uncertainty.

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🛣️ Project Overview: Zirakpur–Panchkula Six-Lane Bypass

🔹 Project Specifications:

• Total Length: 19.2 km

• Lanes: Six lanes

• Elevated Section: 6.195 km

• Estimated Cost: ₹1,878 crore

• Execution Model: Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)

🔹 Major Infrastructure Components:

• Five major flyovers

• Multiple vehicular underpasses

• Bridges and drainage systems

• One railway overbridge

• Dedicated service roads and safety infrastructure

This design ensures uninterrupted traffic flow, especially for long-distance and heavy vehicles that currently choke Zirakpur junctions.

⏳ Why the Project Was Delayed

Despite its strategic importance, the project remained stalled for months due to inter-departmental delays at the state level.

Key Delay Factors:

• Stage-2 forest clearance file remained pending for over eight months

• Bidding process postponed six times

• NHAI legally barred from awarding work without final clearance

• Escalating public pressure due to worsening traffic congestion

Multiple deadline extensions followed after fresh tenders were floated in June 2025, even though all other approvals were already secured.

📅 Official Project Timeline (Updated)

🗣️ Government’s View: Decongestion Is the Priority

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari highlighted the transformative impact of the bypass:

“The Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass is a vital infrastructure project that will significantly decongest the Tricity, improve road safety, and reduce travel time for both commuters and freight. Such projects are central to our vision of modern, efficient road infrastructure that supports economic growth and improves citizens’ quality of life.”

🌆 Impact on Tricity Traffic & Urban Life

🚦 Traffic Decongestion

• Reduced load on Zirakpur traffic lights

• Smoother access to Panchkula and Chandigarh

• Faster inter-state vehicle movement

🌱 Environmental Benefits

• Lower vehicular idling

• Reduced carbon emissions

• Improved air quality across urban zones

⏱️ Time & Cost Savings

• Shorter commute durations

• Lower fuel consumption

• Higher logistics efficiency

🏘️ Real Estate & Investment Upside

Infrastructure-led growth has historically driven real estate appreciation, and the Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass is no exception.

Expected Outcomes:

• Increased demand for residential and commercial projects along the bypass

• Higher land valuation in Zirakpur, Baltana, Peer Muchalla, Panchkula outskirts

• Boost to warehousing, hospitality, and logistics investments

• Improved accessibility to Chandigarh International Airport

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💼 Why This Project Is a Game-Changer for Businesses

• Faster goods movement between Punjab, Haryana, HP, and Chandigarh

• Improved last-mile connectivity

• Enhanced attractiveness for industrial and commercial hubs

• Strong support for MSMEs, logistics parks, and retail corridors

📌 Compliance & Environmental Safeguards

The Stage-2 clearance comes with mandatory conditions:

• Compensatory afforestation

• Payment of statutory environmental levies

• Protection of adjoining forest land

• Strict adherence to mitigation measures during construction

This ensures sustainable development without ecological compromise.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the total cost of the Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass?

The estimated project cost is ₹1,878 crore, funded under the Hybrid Annuity Model.

Q2. Why was the project delayed for so long?

The primary delay was due to pending Stage-2 forest clearance, a mandatory approval for diverting forest land.

Q3. How long is the bypass?

The bypass is 19.2 km long, including a 6.195 km elevated section.

Q4. When will construction begin?

With final clearance granted, technical bids are opening in January, and construction is expected to commence shortly after award of work.

Q5. How will this project benefit residents?

It will reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, shorten commute times, and enhance road safety across the Tricity.

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Final Word

The Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass is no longer a proposal—it is a project on the brink of execution. Its completion will reshape mobility, unlock economic growth, and redefine urban living across the Tricity.

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