Defence ministry clears land for ₹1,983-crore Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass

The Ministry of Defence has given the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) working permission to use 2.7461 acres of defence land at Chandimandir Military Station for the Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass and its connecting spur, The Tribune reported on 19 May 2026. The report described this as the last significant administrative barrier before construction.

The two projects

• Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass: 19.2 km, ₹1,380 crore, awarded to RKCPL Limited on 27 March. It runs from NH-7 (Zirakpur–Patiala) to NH-5 (Zirakpur–Parwanoo). Expected completion: early 2028.
• Connecting spur: 10.3 km, ₹603 crore, awarded to Ceigall Infra Projects on the same day. Expected completion: late 2027.

Terms of the land deal

The land is valued at about ₹9.89 crore. Instead of paying cash, NHAI will build about 32 married accommodation units for junior commissioned officers and other ranks at Chandimandir, at an estimated ₹12 crore, with ₹2.21 crore of that met from the Army's budget.

Before handover, a board of officers from NHAI, the Defence Estates Officer and the local military authority must demarcate the land within four weeks, and the three must sign a memorandum of understanding. The Army is to hand the land over within a month. Permanent transfer still needs Cabinet approval.

Why it matters

Traffic through Zirakpur's flyover and the Panchkula approach is one of the region's worst bottlenecks. The two roads form the south-eastern part of the planned 244-km, ₹12,000-crore Tricity Ring Road. Property in Zirakpur, Dhakoli, Peer Muchalla and the Panchkula side is often marketed on the strength of this bypass; buyers should still treat completion dates as targets, not guarantees.