Title - Be ready for a hassle-free ride Panchkula, Chandigarh to have alternative road connectivity

Chandigarh: Come next October and Panchkula-Chandigarh will have a "hassle-free" alternative road connectivity. The local division of the Indian railways engineering department has begun the construction of the railway underbridge (RuB) at the level crossing between Hallo Majra and Industrial Area in Panchkula.Residents have been urging the authorities to solve the traffic problem on the road for long.Commuters from Panchkula avoid using the road because of frequent traffic jams. "Apart from strengthening the alternative road connectivity between Chandigarh and Panchkula, the move will provide easier inter-city connectivity between Panchkula and Mohali," said officials."With the construction of the RuB, those coming from Panchkula will heave a sigh of relief as they can easily travel to Chandigarh's southern parts and Mohali, " said Subhash Papneja, a resident of Sector 16 in Panchkula. Another Panchkula resident from Sector 12-A, Avinash Chander, said, "Though the construction work will cause inconvenience to commuters, the department concerned must ensure that the work is completed on time."Railway officials said the work would be completed within nine months and Rs 19 crore had been earmarked for the purpose..Chief engineer SK Chadha said an amount of Rs 9 crore was earmarked for constructing approach roads leading to the RuB.

He said at present Chandigarh's Madhya Marg was the main link between these two satellite cities. "The alternative arrangement will strengthen the connectivity between the two cities," he added.

Route for vehicles coming from Industrial Area in Panchkula has been diverted towards Mauli Jagran. A daily commuter on the road, Akshay, said the authorities should have informed the public about the route diversion.