Zirakpur Ring Road Project Gets Green Signal, Work by 2025!

All Approvals Secured: Zirakpur Ring Road Project to Begin by End of 2025!
 

MoEFCC Grants Clearance; ₹1,900 Crore Bypass to Decongest Tricity Roads.

In a landmark step towards improving traffic flow in and around Zirakpur, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted its long-awaited approval for the Zirakpur Ring Road Project. This long-pending infrastructure initiative is now set to roll out by the end of 2025, with tenders already floated and bidding scheduled to begin on August 19.

Key Highlights of the Project

• Six-lane bypass spanning 19.2 km to ease Himachal-bound traffic
• Starts at Patiala-Zirakpur light point (NH-7)
• Ends at Old Panchkula light point (NH-5)
• Bypasses Zirakpur completely, eliminating bottlenecks
• Alternative route to Chandigarh Airport from Panchkula
• Estimated cost: ₹1,900 crore
• Construction aimed to start by end of 2025, completion in 2 years

Relief for Shimla and Delhi-Bound Traffic

The bypass will play a crucial role in providing an alternative route for traffic heading towards Himachal Pradesh, especially Shimla, enabling commuters to avoid the congested Zirakpur junction, where National Highways 5 and 7 intersect.

Similarly, vehicles from Shimla heading to Ambala or Delhi will also benefit from this decongestion route.

Smooth Access to Mohali Airport via New Route

Besides improving long-distance travel, the bypass offers a smart detour from Panchkula to Mohali International Airport, removing the need to pass through Chandigarh’s urban core. This will significantly reduce traffic on Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg, two of the city’s busiest roads.

As envisioned in the Chandigarh Master Plan, the bypass supports rerouting inter-state traffic to improve inner-city mobility.

A Project Revived After a Decade

The Zirakpur Ring Road Project was originally launched in 2013, but stalled in 2014 due to legal challenges from landowners demanding higher compensation. However, in November 2024, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) revived the project during a Unified Metro Transportation Authority (UMTA) meeting, citing the rising traffic pressure due to rapid urbanization in Mohali, Zirakpur, and Panchkula.

Official Statement & Next Steps

“We have received clearance from the environment ministry and have floated the tenders. We hope to begin work by the end of this year and aim to complete it within two years,” said an NHAI official.

With this clearance in place, all decks are now cleared for the long-awaited Zirakpur Ring Road, promising smoother rides and better connectivity for Tricity residents and interstate travelers alike.