Cabinet approves Rs 1,878 crore Zirakpur Bypass project to decongest Chandigarh–Panchkula Urban Region

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a six-lane Zirakpur Bypass, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at decongesting traffic in the Chandigarh–Panchkula–Mohali urban agglomeration. The 19.2-km stretch will be developed under the National Highways (Original) [NH(O)] programme on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), at a total capital cost of Rs 1,878.31 crore.

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The proposed bypass will begin at the junction of NH-7 (Zirakpur–Patiala) and terminate at the junction with NH-5 (Zirakpur–Parwanoo), traversing through Punjab and Haryana. The project route, aligned with the Punjab Government’s Master Plan, is strategically designed to bypass the heavily congested areas of Zirakpur and Panchkula, thereby easing vehicular pressure on these key urban centres.

The Zirakpur Bypass is a critical component of the government’s broader plan to develop an integrated transport network under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. By enabling seamless connectivity and efficient traffic flow, the project will play a pivotal role in supporting economic growth and improving logistics efficiency in the region.

The bypass is expected to significantly reduce travel time for traffic originating from Patiala, Delhi, and Mohali Aerocity, while providing direct access to Himachal Pradesh. The government expects the new corridor to divert a substantial volume of long-distance traffic away from congested city roads, especially along NH-7, NH-5, and NH-152.

The development is part of a larger effort by the Centre to decongest the Chandigarh–Panchkula–Mohali region through a comprehensive road network plan that includes the creation of a ring road. The Zirakpur Bypass is a key segment of this ring road, aimed at reducing urban traffic bottlenecks and ensuring smoother intra- and inter-state connectivity.

Once completed, the bypass is expected to not only enhance travel efficiency but also spur economic activity and improve quality of life in one of North India’s most rapidly urbanizing clusters.

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