For travelers, commuters, and residents of the Tricity (Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula), understanding road safety hotspots is vital. A recent analysis conducted during National Road Safety Month has identified specific corridors in Chandigarh that pose significant risks due to structural flaws rather than just speeding drivers.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the data, the risks, and how to stay safe.

The Deadliest Stretch: Zirakpur Barrier to Hallomajra (NH-5)

This specific corridor acts as a major gateway for interstate traffic, handling a chaotic mix of heavy trucks, interstate buses, local two-wheelers, and cyclists.

• The Stats (2025): 5 fatal accidents, 7 confirmed deaths, and 6 injuries.
• The Core Problem: The high fatality-to-accident ratio suggests that the road design itself is dangerous.
• Key Hazards:
  • Unsafe Merges: Vehicles moving from slow carriageways to the main road often collide with high-speed traffic.
  • Poor Segregation: Lack of dedicated lanes for cyclists and pedestrians puts vulnerable road users at risk.
  • Median Flaws: Sharp entry and exit points at medians create conflict zones.

What Authorities Recommend: Experts are calling for structural changes rather than just fines. Proposals include redesigning medians with chamfered (smoothed) exits, widening slow carriageways, and potentially constructing an underpass or overbridge extending up to Tribune Chowk.

Other High-Alert Traffic Corridors in Chandigarh

While Zirakpur-Hallomajra tops the list, other stretches require extreme caution.

1. Hallomajra to Tribune Chowk

• Risk Level: High (5 accidents, 3 deaths in 2025).
• Primary Causes: Heavy cyclist movement from Hallomajra village and unregulated bus stops near Tribune Chowk.
• Safety Note: Watch out for sudden merges near Poultry Farm Chowk.

2. Mullanpur Barrier to Sector 25/38

• Risk Level: Moderate Volume, High Severity (6 accidents, 3 fatalities).
• Primary Causes: Poor junction geometry and a lack of speed-calming measures. Drivers often speed here due to lower traffic volume.
• Safety Note: Be alert near roundabouts where buses often stop abruptly.

3. Housing Board to Transport Lightpoint

• Risk Level: Structural Risk (3 fatal cases).
• Primary Causes: Design-related safety gaps.
• Proposed Fixes: Better lane markings and continuous footpaths are needed.

4. PGI Chowk to Mullanpur

• Risk Level: Pedestrian Sensitive.
• Primary Causes: Heavy foot traffic from PGI and Panjab University.
• Safety Note: This area sees massive pedestrian movement; drivers must yield and maintain low speeds.

Traveler Safety Guide: How to Navigate These Routes

If you are driving through Chandigarh, especially entering via Zirakpur or Mullanpur, keep these human-verified tips in mind:

1. Stick to Your Lane: On the Zirakpur-Hallomajra stretch, erratic lane changes are the leading cause of side-swipes.
2. Watch the “Blind” Merges: When entering the main highway from a slip road (slow carriageway), assume the incoming traffic cannot see you. Pause before merging.
3. Cyclist Awareness: Near Tribune Chowk and Hallomajra, cyclists often swerve to avoid potholes or parked vehicles. Give them extra buffer space.
4. Roundabout Discipline: At Mullanpur, slow down well before the roundabout. The geometry there can be deceptive, causing cars to drift into adjacent lanes.
5. Pedestrian Zones: Near PGI, always expect pedestrians to cross even where there is no zebra crossing.

Is the Zirakpur-Hallomajra road safe?

Recent data flags this stretch as high-risk. In past year 2025, the corridor between Zirakpur barrier and Hallomajra light point (NH-5) recorded 5 fatal accidents resulting in 7 deaths, the highest fatality count among the city’s congestion-prone zones.