A senior UT official told Newsline that within a week, two committees, one high-powered committee headed by UT Administrator Gen S F Rodrigues (retd), and another headed by UT Advisor Pradip Mehra would be constituted to take a decision on the preparation of DPR and Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). Besides, the officials from the administration, both the committees would also have Chief Secretaries from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh as their members.

“We will include Himachal Pradesh as well as the state has shown willingness to be a part of the project,” said a senior official.

In the expert committee on Chandigarh MRTS meeting held on January 12, under the chairmanship of Urban Development Secretary , Government of India, it was decided to prepare the detailed project report for grade separated metro keeping the underground length restricted to heritage areas.

The committee also decided for the development of a comprehensive mobility plan and a region-wide mass transport network, which will suggest the mix of modes for network connectivity and phasing up of investment.

The CMP would focus on better coordination of bus services in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali and would determine the most suitable modes to connect Metro rail with the other modes of transportation.