In a significant development for Chandigarh, the long-delayed underground pedestrian crossing designed to protect thousands of university students and hospital visitors from one of the city's most dangerous arterial roads has moved a step closer to construction. The Chandigarh administration's engineering department has received five bids to build the pedestrian pass under Madhya Marg, a high-traffic state highway connecting the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) with Panjab University (PU). Engineers have begun a technical evaluation of the contractors' financial stability and infrastructure experience before opening the financial bids.
Project Approval and Delays
First approved in principle by the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee and the local government in November 2019, following urgent warnings from traffic police, the project has been stalled for over six years. The delay has been a source of concern for pedestrians who face daily risks crossing the busy highway.
Utility Relocation Challenges
Before groundbreaking can begin, the administration must coordinate a complex relocation of subterranean utility infrastructure running beneath the highway. Officials recently met with the municipal corporation of Chandigarh and Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited to fast-track updated financial estimates for shifting water mains, sewers, storm drains, and electrical lines. This step is critical to ensure the underpass construction proceeds without hindrance.
Bidders for the Contract
The five firms competing for the contract are Gaaneshkartikey Construction, Krishna Construction, S P Singh Bedi and Sons, Neeraj Mohindra, and R K Constructions. The technical evaluation will assess their capability to handle a project of this scale and complexity.
Once the technical evaluation is complete, the financial bids will be opened, and the contract will be awarded to the most qualified bidder. The underpass is expected to significantly enhance pedestrian safety in the area, reducing the risk of accidents for students and hospital visitors alike.
