NHAI Proposes New Route for Zirakpur–Panchkula Bypass to Save 1,900 Trees

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has submitted a revised route for the Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It could save more than 1,900 trees, but it adds to the cost and may delay the project. This article covers the history of the bypass, what has changed and what happens next.  

Original vs Revised Plan  

About the Bypass  

The bypass is a six-lane road that will take traffic off the congested NH-7 and NH-5 stretch through Zirakpur. According to Tribune, it will be about 19.2 km long. It will run from the Zirakpur–Patiala junction on NH-7 to the Zirakpur–Parwanoo junction on NH-5. The design includes a 6.195 km elevated section, five flyovers, one vehicular underpass, nine light vehicular underpasses, two bridges and a railway overbridge.  

It is meant to cut travel time between Zirakpur and Panchkula from about 35 minutes to 17 minutes. Traffic from Ambala heading to Shimla would no longer need to enter Zirakpur. Panchkula residents would also get another route towards the airport in Mohali.  

The bypass is also strategically useful.The Tribune reports   that it will give signal-free connectivity from the Western Command Headquarters at Chandimandir to Chandigarh airport.The purpose – Fasterconnections also tend to change how people see a locality, and many follow such developments when they look at projects in Zirakpur  and other nearby areas.  

History of the Zirakpur Bypass  

The bypass has been planned for more than a decade. The timeline below shows how it got here.  

2013–2014: Launch and first halt  

NBM & CW reports   that the project was launched in 2013. It was halted in February 2014 because of legal disputes over land compensation. The road then stayed on paper for nearly 11 years.  

2022: Groundwork and land acquisition  

In May 2022,  NBM & CW reported    that NHAI had started groundwork and land acquisition. At that time, the project was described as a 17-km, ₹800-crore road expected to be ready by March 2023. That deadline passed. The project cost has since risen sharply, to the ₹1,878 crore now quoted.  

2024: Revival with a new plan  

In September 2024, NHAI revived the project.The Tribune reported a plan for a 200-foot-wide, six-lane bypass of about 16.5 km. It would start at the Patiala–Zirakpur light point and end at the old Panchkula light point. On the way, it would pass Peer Muchalla, Sanoli, Gazipur and Nagla before merging with the road dividing Sectors 20 and 21 in Panchkula.  

The Tricity Ring Road idea was discussed at a meeting of the Northern Zonal Council in Amritsar. NHAI was asked to work with the Punjab and Haryana governments and the Chandigarh Administration on a plan.  

Bidding delays  

The bypass was then delayed again. The Tribune reported  that six months after Cabinet approval, the project was still on paper. NHAI had extended the bidding deadline for the fourth time. The project cost at that stage was ₹1,878.31 crore.   

Contract award and defence land  

UNI reports  that the contract was awarded to RKCPL Limited on March 27. The Ministry of Defence then gave NHAI working permission to use 2.7461 acres of defence land at Chandimandir Military Station. Permission will be granted only if three parties (RKCPL, NHAI and Chandimandir Military) sign an agreement and NHAI must repair or replace any defence-related property damaged during the work.  

Officials earlier expected the connecting road to open by the end of 2027 and the main bypass to open in 2028. However, these timelines were announced before the road design was changed.  

December 2025 onwards: Court intervention  

On December 24, 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court raised concerns about the decreasing forest cover and temporarily stopped tree cutting for projects. Verdictum reports    that the order came during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the proposed cutting of nearly 5,000 trees for the bypass project.

The Court also restricted tree cutting in Haryana without its permission and directed NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) to submit alternative road alignment plans prepared by its technical team. In response to these concerns and restrictions, NHAI considered a revised route for the bypass to address the environmental issues.

NHAI later challenged the High Court's restrictions in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court issued a notice and asked the Punjab government to propose land for compensatory afforestation, which means planting trees to compensate for those lost due to the project. According to the passage, Punjab was asked to submit its response by November 27.

Key dates at a glance  

What the Revised Plan Means  

• More trees saved:More than 1,900 trees are spared compared to the earlier plan. Mature trees give shade, trap dust, reduce noise and shelter wildlife.  
• Higher cost:₹65 crore is added to the ₹1,878 crore project cost.  
• Possible delay:Redesign, fresh approvals and construction changes may extend the timeline.  

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Petitioners' Objections  

The petitioners are not fully satisfied. They say many trees in the forest area near Peer Muchalla could still be cut. They want the project to avoid ecologically sensitive areas, not just reduce the number of trees affected.  

They had earlier suggested two alternatives:  

• A route near the Ghaggar riverbed  

• A route along a sector-dividing road in Panchkula  

These ideas are expected to come up in the expert discussions.  

What the High Court Has Said  

The High Court has said that a large number of trees cannot be cut without properly considering the environmental impact. The Court wants to balance the public's needs, such as better roads and reduced traffic, with the need to protect forests and the environment. This means the Court is not stopping the bypass project itself; it wants the project to proceed responsibly.

NHAI and the petitioners have agreed to discuss the matter with technical experts. These experts can help evaluate the proposed road route and possible alternatives to reduce environmental damage.

The details of these discussions, recorded in official meeting minutes, will be submitted to the Court at the next hearing on October 28. After reviewing the discussions and proposals, the Court will decide what directions to give next.

Conclusion  

The Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass has been in the works since 2013. It has survived a long halt, repeated delays and now a court challenge over trees. The revised alignment could save more than 1,900 trees, but it adds ₹65 crore to the cost and may delay completion. Concerns about the Peer Muchalla forest area remain.  

The expert consultations and the October 28 hearing will show whether a middle path exists. Follow the hearing for updates on the final route and timeline.For readers who want to follow how infrastructure shapes the region,  Acquire Estate  offers useful information on regional growth trends.