Chandigarh
The city’s first pedestrian underpass connecting Rose Garden in Sector 16 with Sector 17 will open on January 8. Punjab governor and UT administrator V P Singh Badnore will inaugurate the Rs 9 crore project having a 100-seat amphitheatre, cycle and golf cart ramps and dedicated walls for art works, paintings and sculptures to enrich the culture heritage of the city.
The project has been divided into three portions – 62 metre-long and 12 mt-wide tunnel and the two areas from Rose Garden and Sector 17. The project is also called heritage gateway owing to the two museums in Sector 10 and Capitol Complex near the underpass.
“A sufficient space of 6 to 8 metres has been marked for cycle ramps in the underpass. The authorities are also planning to ply golf carts for people at the Plaza. So, a provision for golf carts has been kept. Extensive lighting has been done in and around the underpass to enable people to enjoy the spot during evening and night hours too,” sources said.
The 100-seating capacity amphitheatre is another unique feature in the project. The underpass will have a special area, where art students or professionals will be allowed to draw painting, murals and make sculptures, sources said.
As both the venues, Rose Garden and Sector 17 Plaza, have huge tourism potential, the aim of the project is to provide better connectivity between the two sites to attract more tourists to the city and provide a facility to visit the two areas without facing any traffic chaos, senior UT officials said.
“Besides connecting the Rose Garden with the Sector 17 Plaza, the aim behind the pedestrian underpass is to make north plaza a cultural hub. Cultural events have been planned in the north plaza in the rejuvenation plan of Sector 17, which is currently a dull site. Moreover, since Rose Garden will be connected with the commercial hub of Sector 17, public can easily go for shopping besides enjoying cultural events. People can quickly reach the places without any traffic chaos. However, in case of requirement, option of electric vehicles and cycles has been kept,” said a senior UT official.
