Traffic jams at Shastri Nagar rly crossing adds to commuters' woes

The railway crossing at Shastri Nagar causes traffic jams several times in a day, leaving the commuters inconvenienced. Even after the passage of several years, the municipal corporation (MC) hasn't been able to construct an overbridge or an underpass here.

The crossing is closed almost twice an hour due to rail traffic which results in traffic jams. The MC had planned to construct an overbridge or underpass but the study on the project is still going on to find a solution.

There are three schools near the Shastri Nagar railway crossing. This road also leads to a major hospital of the area. The residents want MC to come up with a solution at the earliest.

Sources say the MC had planned to construct an overbridge but the location of a building in the way made it tough for the civic body to initiate the project.

A main sewer line passes under this way due to which the plan to construct an underpass has not been materialised, said an MC official.

Sometimes, long traffic jams are witnessed at the nearby intersection of Sarabha Nagar. Traffic jams are also witnessed on Pakhowal Road where a railway overbridge was proposed near Sacred Heart Convent School.

The shopkeepers of the area want a solution to this problem. The residents seek diversion of traffic through alternative routes during peak hours, especially when the last bell rings in the schools.

Residents speak:

There is a need to construct a railway overbridge or underpass as the crossing at Shastri Nagar is closed multiple times in a day. Huge traffic jams are witnessed when schools start and also after school hours in the afternoon when the crossing is closed. The road should be made one-way during peak hours.
Mohinderpal Singh Bhatia, resident

Traffic snarls are common due to closure of gates at the railway crossing. The MC and railway authorities should find out a solution as patients can also be seen stuck in the traffic jams. If MC faces any problem to construct an overbridge here, then it should construct one at the Pakhowal Road railway crossing so that traffic can be diverted through that.
Satish Sachdeva, commuter

Councillor speak:

The residents are facing problems due to traffic snarls. MC's plan to construct an overbridge here couldn't materialise as a building was located in that way. The plan to construct an underpass was not successful as the main sewerage line passes under the road. Now we want a railway overbridge to be constructed on Pakhowal Road.

Manvinderpal Singh Makkar, councillor, ward number 48