Sump pending, underpass to take two more months

Though the construction work on the underpass on Lodhi Club Road in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Ludhiana, is almost complete, the commuters would have to wait for another two months for its opening.

This is because the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) is still waiting for permission from the railways for constructing a sump (a low-lying place, such as a pit, that receives drainage) from where the collected water would be released into sewer.

Earlier, the authorities claimed to have completed the Rs 37-crore project in March this year. But the ground reality reflects a different picture.

Now, the official concerned claimed that it would be inaugurated on August 15 by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

A visit to the site revealed that the work of construction of roads and installation of lights and reflectors was done. According to the workers on site, only some minor works were pending.
However, according to GLADA, the underpass could not be opened till the construction of required sump was not ready. The authority maintains that the sump is necessary to avoid accumulation of rain water at the underpass. GLADA has already constructed one sump that falls on municipal corporation land and another is to be constructed with the permission of railways.

Meanwhile, due to the delay in the underpass’s completion, the commuters are at the receiving end.

Harjot Singh, resident of BRS Nagar, said, “We have been continuously facing inconvenience for the past five years, when the railway crossing was closed. Even the construction of underpass was started and then stopped for some time. These days we have t o pass through the streets of Block J to cross the railway tracks. If the underpass becomes functional, commuters will get relief from traffic snarls.”

This underpass is located on the road connecting Ferozepur Road to Pakhowal Road.

The project was abruptly halted for a few months. Thereafter, fresh tenders were floated by the railway authorities and GLADA. After, reissuing the new tender in December 2012, the work on the underpass began in January 2013.

GLADA divisional engineer SS Jawanda said, “We have been waiting for a green signal from the railways for the construction of a sump. After its construction the underpass will be ready. The estimate of the project is around Rs 37 crore.” GLADA superintending engineer RK Jaidka claimed that the underpass would be inaugurated by the deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on August 15. He assured that all required works would be completed before inauguration.

Divisional Railway manager NC Goyal could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

LIT TO CONSTRUCT ROAD NEAR SBS NAGAR

Finally, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) will construct a stretch of about 600 metres near Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar on this road that connects Ferozepur Road and Pakhowal Road. “We have sent a resolution to get approval from government for constructing this stretch of the road. Earlier, this area was private land and the case was subjudice.”