Why the Zirakpur Panchkula Bypass Faces Delays: Full Breakdown

The Zirakpur Panchkula Bypass was planned as one of the region’s most important road infrastructure upgrades, designed to ease congestion, reduce travel time and divert heavy traffic away from densely populated stretch points. But despite its significance the project has hit multiple roadblocks, pushing timelines further and leaving commuters confused about its future.   

This crucial 19.2 km infrastructure upgrade which includes a  6.195 km elevated section was approved with a substantial  Project Cost of  ₹1,878.31 Crore . A major contributing factor to the delays and complexity is the substantial  17.57 hectares of forest land required for its completion. This has been a significant hurdle for residents of Zirakpur, Panchkula, and the wider Tricity region.  

Environmental Clearance Still Pending  

One of the biggest reasons behind the slowdown is the  pending environmental clearance . Large scale infrastructure projects require approvals under environmental regulations especially when they involve land use change, cutting of trees or modification of natural drainage paths.In the case of this bypass the proposal needed multiple layers of assessment from environmental experts, local committees and state level authorities.  

Crucial progress has been made on necessary environmental approvals with  Stage - 1 Forest Clearance secured on  July 31 2025 . However the project's ability to proceed remains restricted as  Stage 2 Forest Approval is  Still Pending .  

Until these approvals are fully granted no major construction activity can move forward pushing the timeline back significantly and Land Acquisition Status has Completed in 2020.  

Alignment Revisions & Departmental Clearances  

The project has also undergone  multiple alignment reviews due to concerns raised by different agencies:  

• Safety approvals     
   
• Utility shifting (electricity, water pipelines, telecom lines)     
   
• Impact on nearby residential and commercial zones  

Each department involved has its own inspection cycle and approval mechanism. Even a minor revision means documents must be re submitted and re evaluated.  

Inter Department Coordination Gaps  

Because the bypass connects two major administrative regions  Zirakpur (Punjab side) and  Panchkula (Haryana side) coordination between the two states becomes crucial.  

However officials from both sides have confirmed that  inter department approvals have taken longer than expectet  especially for:  

• Forest department permissions     
   
• Municipal clearances     
   
• Revenue department approvals     
   
• Traffic impact assessments  

Such cross border projects often take more time due to additional paperwork and interstate communication.  

On Ground Utility Shifting Still Incomplete  

Before any major excavation or construction begins utilities such as poles, transformers, sewer lines and underground cables must be relocated.  

In this bypass’s case  utility shifting has been slower than planned mainly because:  

• Some utilities don't yet have alternative routes     
   
• Coordination between departments is slow     
   
• Safety approvals take time     
   
• This seemingly small component becomes a major bottleneck in execution.  

What This Delay Means for Commuters  

For daily commuters between Zirakpur and Panchkula the delay means:  

• Continued traffic jams during peak hours     
   
• Slower movement of heavy vehicles     
   
• More congestion on existing routes like Airport Road & Peer Muchalla Road     
   
• Residents and businesses have been waiting for relief that remains uncertain for now.  

When Can We Expect Progress?  

Officials have stated that once clearances are finalized the project can move ahead at a faster pace. With the foundation work already prepared on some stretches the bypass could regain momentum quickly but only after all approvals are in place.  

The procurement and construction timeline for the Zirakpur Panchkula Bypass has been adjusted with the  Bid Deadline now  Extended to December 20 . Following the bidding process the project is moving towards the contract phase with the  Likely Work  anticipated in  Early 2026 . If this schedule holds the  Tentative Construction Start is projected for  March April 2026 aiming for an  Estimated Completion date in  2028 . This timeline provides a clearer, though delayed, outlook for residents and commuters awaiting the completion of this critical bypass.