New Delhi/Chandigarh, February 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari has described it as ‘extremely unfortunate’ that, despite his earnest efforts, one of the city’s most crucial projects – the Chandigarh Metro in the Tri-City appears to be ‘heading nowhere’.
Warning the Union government about the already severe traffic congestion in Chandigarh, Tewari stressed that without a Metro Rail system, the traffic situation could become unimaginable by 2036 and Chandigarh will remain nothing more than a ‘hell for traffic’, with gridlock’s threatening to paralyze the city’s mobility and growth.
It is pertinent to mention here that most recently, Tewari has taken up this matter during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha on December 11, highlighting the urgent need for a Metro Rail in Chandigarh.
Responding to this, now the Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu had said that notwithstanding the establishment of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) on April 28, 2023, the Government of India has yet to receive any proposal from the Chandigarh Administration, the Punjab Government or the Haryana Government to set up a Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) in the Quadra Cities of Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali and New Chandigarh.
Reacting to this, Tewari while expressing his surprise, said, “One can only wonder what the UMTA has been doing over the past 34 months, especially when RITES has already submitted two reports underscoring the financial viability of the Metro project. Despite this, no proposal has been sent to the Centre by the concerned states or administration, which is a serious lapse.”
On the Minister’s response that the urban transport is a state subject and the primary responsibility for planning lies with the Union Territory (Chandigarh) or the concerned states (Punjab and Haryana), Tewari, while reacting sharply, said, “By claiming no proposal has been received, the Ministry is conveniently absolving itself of responsibility, ignoring the urgency of Chandigarh’s traffic crisis.”
He also said that perusal of the Minister’s detailed reply clearly reflects that it is nothing more than bureaucratic buck-passing. “Instead of taking ownership of a project vital to Chandigarh’s future, the Minister is hiding behind the procedural excuses,” retorted Tewari, while adding, “Our city’s future is being compromised, which is totally unacceptable.”
The Chandigarh MP further said that the response of the Government clearly lacks the ‘political will’ rather than a lack of paperwork. “The people of Chandigarh deserve solutions, not excuses”, he said. “Leadership demands initiative, not deflection.
Shedding responsibility in this manner only delays progress further”, he said. Quoting the fact that Metro construction has been completed in as many as 18 cities of India, Tewari again underscored an urgent need for Chandigarh Metro.
Underlining the need for the Metro Rail project, Tewari said that the Chandigarh and its neighboring cities continue to witness rapid growth in both population and vehicles. Pointing out that the pressure on roads is mounting steadily, he said, “Each day, large numbers of commuters travel from New Chandigarh , Mohali and Panchkula to Chandigarh for work, which adds to the city’s already strained traffic network.
The need for an integrated, modern public transport system has been felt for years. The Metro project would not only help ease congestion but also play a crucial role in reducing pollution, conserving fuel and providing a sustainable mobility solution for the Tri-City region.”
Reiterating his demand from the Centre to immediately designate the Chandigarh Metro as a Strategic Connectivity Project and sanction a special grant of Rs 25,000 crore to break the long stalemate, Tewari noted that the project’s estimated cost has already surged from Rs 16,000 crore at the planning stage to nearly Rs 25,000 crore, warning that further delays will only inflate it further.
“The Union Government must treat the Chandigarh Metro as a ‘strategic lifeline’ to integrate the region and unlock its economic potential. The Centre must step in with Rs 25,000 crore to ensure this long-delayed project finally moves from blueprint to execution,” he demanded.
FOLLOW NOW
