Title - Metro to run under city centre

CHANDIGARH: The happening city centre in Sector 17 would now have Metro rail running underneath it before the two tube corridors planned in the first phase cross each other at Matka Chowk, intersection on sectors 9, 10, 16 and 17. It would be the north-south corridor of Metro, connecting Mohali with Capitol Complex that would run under the commercial hub. The entire tube system will be underground in the city area.Besides, Transport Area would be shifted from its present location in Sector 26 to Daria and the current site would be used for setting up a Metro node on the Madhya Marg.According to the draft concept Plan 2031 prepared by the urban planning department, most of the east-west corridor would move in a straight line along Madhya Marg before moving along a curve around Botanical Garden to reach Mullanpur.Similarly, the north-south corridor, too, would reach Sector 22 in a straight line and then lean towards left to run across Sector 17 before turning straight again.The exact alignment of the Metro corridors has been communicated to UT administration by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in its draft detailed project report, which has been incorporated in the draft master plan of Chandigarh."The Transport Area attracts a lot of trucks, which cause obstructions for Panchkula-Chandigarh traffic. As there is already a plan to shift out vegetable market and timber market, it would clear up prime land in the middle of the city. The Metro node there would probably be the busiest, apart from one planned near Sector 17 and Sector 9," said a UT official. A traffic study conducted by the UT engineering department had found that over 35,000 vehicles cross Madhya Marg during peak hours. The city has the highest per capita vehicle ratio (2:1) in the country.The junctions with almost constant traffic congestion include Press chowk light point, Kisan Bhawan chowk, Piccadilly chowk, Transport chowk, Industrial Area Phases I, II, sectors 29-30 roundabout and Matka chowk. Four lakh daily commuters enter Chandigarh from Panchkula and Mohali.