Chandigarh (Naval Kishore): Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chandigarh on Friday once again brought attention to one of the city’s most debated roads—a short but strategically significant stretch that has remained out of bounds for the public for nearly 45 years. The barricades were temporarily removed to facilitate the Prime Minister’s convoy before the route was restored to its restricted status.
The road, located near the Nayagaon-Chandigarh border, serves as a direct link to several high-security establishments, including the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Civil Secretariat, Raj Bhavan, Sukhna Lake, and the official residences of the Punjab and Haryana Chief Ministers. Security agencies continue to treat it as the preferred corridor for VVIP movement because of its limited public exposure and quick connectivity.
The route was originally closed in 1980 during the peak of militancy in Punjab after security agencies identified it as a vulnerable stretch near the Chief Minister’s residence. Since then, ordinary commuters have been prohibited from using the road, while it is opened only for visits by the Prime Minister, President and other protected dignitaries.
The prolonged closure has remained a contentious civic issue. Residents from Nayagaon and adjoining areas, along with lawyers, students and government employees, have repeatedly argued that reopening the road would drastically reduce travel time to Chandigarh’s administrative and judicial complexes while easing congestion on surrounding roads.
The matter eventually reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which, after hearing a public interest litigation, directed the Chandigarh Administration in 2024 to allow limited public access during daytime hours on a trial basis. The court observed that the original circumstances leading to the closure had changed significantly over the decades.
However, the Punjab government opposed the move, maintaining that unrestricted traffic near the Chief Minister’s residence could compromise security arrangements. The government subsequently approached the Supreme Court, which stayed the High Court’s order. Since then, the road has remained closed to civilians pending the final outcome of the case.
Officials involved in security planning say the road continues to be selected for VVIP movements because it offers the shortest travel distance from the Rajendra Park helipad while requiring fewer traffic diversions and allowing security personnel to secure the entire corridor within a limited timeframe.
For thousands of daily commuters, however, the road remains visible but inaccessible. While it briefly comes alive during visits by constitutional dignitaries, its future as a public route now depends entirely on the Supreme Court’s final decision, which is yet to be delivered.
