Chandigarh, Nov. 14 -- Four years after reclaiming nearly 65 acres of land following the demolition of Colony No. 4, the Chandigarh administration has moved a step closer to developing a City Forest along Sukhna Choe, with the engineering department floating a Rs.12-crore tender for the project. The tender, issued on Friday, covers the development of the City Forest at Colony No. 4, Sukhna Choe Forest, Industrial Area Phase I, with the contractor required to complete the work within six months from the date of commencement. The project will involve three components - civil works worth approximately Rs.11 crore, public health works estimated at Rs.1 crore and electrical works costing around Rs.64 lakh. According to the notice inviting tender, the engineering department has invited online bids from eligible contractors. The earnest money deposit has been fixed at Rs.22 lakh. The last date for submission of bids is November 26, with the technical bids scheduled to be opened at 11.30 am on the same day. The project is proposed on around 35 acres of the land reclaimed after the administration removed the unauthorised settlement of Colony No. 4 on May 1, 2022. The administration had reclaimed nearly 65 acres, a substantial portion of which originally belonged to the forest department. The proposed facilities include nature trails, walking paths, cycle tracks, elevated trails, viewing platforms, bird-watching facilities, observation decks, rain shelters, gazebos, meditation huts, bamboo bridges and canopies. A nature interpretation and learning facility, auditorium, open-air theatre, reception and visitor-management facilities, toilets and food kiosks are also part of the broader project plan. The project was recommended by the UT appraisal committee on August 24, 2026, at an estimated cost of Rs.13 crore, as part of three infrastructure proposals worth Rs.176 crore. The current tender puts the estimated cost at Rs.12 crore, around Rs.90 lakh lower than the earlier project estimate. In June, Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria had reviewed the proposed City Forest project and directed officials to ensure its timely implementation while adhering to environmental safeguards and conservation principles....