The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has drawn up a new alignment for the 19 km Zirakpur-Panchkula bypass project that would save 1,900 trees, almost 50% of the 4,000 trees earlier proposed to be cut, for the road connecting Zirakpur in Punjab to a toll plaza on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway in Haryana.
In an affidavit before the Punjab and Haryana high court (HC), the NHAI said that after revisiting the project, a new alignment was worked out which would help save more than 1,900 trees from felling. The move would, however, result in a ₹ 65 crore cost escalation while also increasing the project completion timeline. The cost estimate before the revision was ₹ 1,800 crore. Around 50% of compensatory afforestation would be on the highway itself, according to rough estimates. The foundation stone of the project was to be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his July 17 visit. However, it had to be deferred in view of the HC on April 1 staying felling of trees for the project. The PIL had alleged that nearly 5,000 trees for the project are to be cut, estimated to be 4,000 by the NHAI.
The end and starting points are to remain the same but the road would shift more towards the Ghaggar side, according to the NHAI.
