Nearly 2 years on, railway overbridge not built

A file photo of Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal laying the stone of the railway overbridge on Maal Godam Road in February 2014.

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 25

The construction work of the town’s maiden railway overbridge on Muktsar-Jalalabad road is yet to begin even though Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal laid its foundation stone on February 28, 2014.

Neither the railways has given permission to use its land on lease, nor the encroachments removed for the project. Even the project and estimate charges of Rs 16 lakh were paid to the railways after a long delay.

As per an estimate of the PWD (B&R) officials, the state government would have spent nearly Rs 24.31 crore on this project. The overbridge would have provided relief to commuters, who are mostly stuck in traffic jams at railway crossings.

A number of local residents allege the stone was laid in a hurry before the enforcement of the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections so the ruling alliance could get support for Sher Singh Ghubaya, party’s candidate from Ferozepur parliamentary constituency.

Jaspreet Vermi, Sub-Divisional Officer, Muktsar, said, “We have written to the railways several times, seeking permission to use their land on lease, but to no avail.”

Project stuck in red tape

• Neither the railways has given permission to use its land on lease, nor the encroachments removed for the project 
• Even the estimate charges of Rs 16 lakh were paid to the railways after a long delay
• As per an estimate of the PWD (B&R) officials, the state government was to spend nearly Rs 24.31 crore on the project
• The overbridge would have provided relief to commuters, who are mostly stuck in traffic jams at railway crossings

Courtesy: The Tribune