₹1,878-Crore Zirakpur–Panchkula Bypass Stuck as Punjab Delays Final Clearance

Published on: 26 Dec 2025 at 02:14 PM

Published by: Fact News

Fact News Service

Chandigarh, December 26: A long-awaited road project meant to ease chronic traffic congestion in the Tricity region has run into bureaucratic delays, with the Punjab government yet to grant final environmental approval, even months after the Centre cleared the proposal.

The ₹1,878-crore Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass, a six-lane access-controlled highway, was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) earlier this year. The project is considered a crucial link in the proposed Tricity Ring Road, designed to streamline traffic flow between Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Zirakpur.

Despite the Centre’s green signal, the project has failed to move forward due to the pending Stage-2 forest clearance from Punjab, which is mandatory before construction can begin.

Why the Bypass Matters

Zirakpur has emerged as one of the busiest traffic choke points in north India, handling vehicles moving between Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Daily congestion along NH-7, particularly near Patiala Chowk and Baltana, leads to long delays, rising pollution levels and frequent accidents.

Once completed, the bypass is expected to:

Divert heavy and long-distance traffic away from urban roads

Reduce travel time between Panchkula and Mohali

Improve air quality in densely populated areas

Boost regional connectivity and economic activity

Urban planners say the bypass is no longer optional but essential for the Tricity’s growing population.

What Is Stage-2 Forest Clearance?

Forest clearance for infrastructure projects is granted in two stages:

Stage-1 (in-principle approval): Granted after preliminary scrutiny

Stage-2 (final approval): Issued only after compliance with conditions such as compensatory afforestation, land transfer and environmental safeguards

While Stage-1 approval has already been obtained, Stage-2 clearance remains pending, effectively freezing the project.

Officials say without this clearance, authorities cannot:

Float tenders, Award construction contracts, Begin physical work on site. As a result, the bidding process has reportedly been postponed multiple times.

Centre–State Coordination in Focus

The delay has once again highlighted the coordination gap between the Centre and states in executing large infrastructure projects. Although the funding and approval are in place at the central level, state-level clearances remain a decisive factor.

Sources indicate that repeated reminders have been sent to the Punjab government, but the clearance is still awaited, raising concerns over cost escalation and timeline slippages.

Once the forest clearance is granted, officials believe the project can be fast-tracked, with construction expected to begin soon after tendering. However, every month of delay risks increasing project costs and prolonging traffic woes for thousands of commuters.

For residents of Zirakpur, Panchkula and surrounding areas, the stalled bypass has become a symbol of missed deadlines and mounting frustration — a reminder that approvals on paper do not always translate into progress on the ground.