RailEnquiry

The Chandigarh administration has been facing criticism for lack of public transport policy for the city. This has resulted in people relying more on personal transport, resulting in chaos on city roads and lack of parking space at markets and residential areas. The administration has now planned for a metro rail project but people are skeptical about its success.  The Chandigarh administration has decided to go ahead with the multi-crore metro rail project. The deliberations on this ambitious project have been going on for a long time. Now, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has submitted its detailed project report and work is likely to start soon. The city residents are, however, skeptical about the success of the Metro in the State Capital Region. A prominent environmentalist, Navdeep Asija, who is known for successfully running the eco cab project in Fazilka and other towns in Punjab, is not convinced that metro can be an effective public transport system in Chandigarh. Asija feels that Chandigarh is more suitable for a bus transport system. Asija also feels that there is a need for a three-tier public transport system. Cycle rickshaws are required to transport the people from their house to the nearest bus stop. Then people can use buses to cover long distances. Those who do not want to use the two could use the auto rickshaws. Asija said that there was an immediate need to think of a proper public transport system. He also asserted the need to design new bus routes. Chandigarh administration officials feel that public also has to change its mindset in this regard. The recently launched air-conditioned free bus service to the high court for the lawyers from different parts of city failed as it found no takers. The Day and Night News team also talked to local residents to know their views on the public transport system. However, it is for sure that metro or no metro, the bus service has to be improved in the State Capital Region as even the metro will not be connected to each and every sector