UT is worried about Madhya Marg becoming a thoroughfare for inter-state traffic passing through Chandigarh. It will take up this matter in the coordination committee of three states so that provision for alternative routes is made in the regional plan.The master plan committee has highlighted that the growing vehicular traffic from Mullanpur and upcoming projects in Kansal, Zirakpur and Panchkula is passing through Chandigarh for no reason.
This has resulted in the two key arteries, Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg, getting clogged during peak hours. As ministry of home affairs is supervising preparation of the inter-state plan, Punjab and Haryana will have to take the issue seriously and come up with alternative routes. 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.
Junctions with almost constant traffic congestion include Press Chowk lightpoint, Kisan Bhawan Chowk, Piccadilly Chowk, Transport Chowk, Industrial Area phases I, II, sectors 29 and 30 roundabout and Matka Chowk. Over 4 lakh daily commuters enter Chandigarh from Panchkula and Mohali.
Haryana Urban Development Authority has, meanwhile, prepared a proposal for connecting the road dividing sectors 17 and 18 of Panchkula through a ROB to Chandigarh's Industrial Area, Phase-I.The road to railway station along the CTU workshop in Chandigarh's Industrial Area, Phase I will connect to the sector 17/18 road, if railways give their approval for construction. At its own level, UT has also been unable to provide parallel routes to Panchkula. Chandigarh-Panchkula route no. 2 has not
become operational in spite of four years having passed. The 3-km stretch was to connect Hallomajra light point with Industrial area, Phase II of Panchkula.
Part of the Dream Weave Walk Network 1998-2012