Wait for opening of underpass gets longer

The wait for opening of underpass on the Lodhi Club Road in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar is getting longer due to the delay in construction of a sump to avoid waterlogging.

Though the officials had earlier claimed that the underpass would be inaugurated by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal on August 15, the work is still pending.

The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) is still waiting for permission from the railways for constructing a sump from where the collected water will be released into the sewer. Other main works, including construction of roads and dividers, streetlights and paint on walls, have been completed.

Now, a team of railway officials will visit next week for inspection, as per the claims of GLADA officials.

The officials also claimed that it would them take one month more to complete the remaining work at the underpass.

Moreover, as a stretch of around 600 metres that leads to the underpass is in a pitiable condition, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust has sent a resolution to the state government for approval of construction of this stretch.

Though the underpass has not been officially opened, some commuters have started using it. However, there is stagnant water on this railway underpass as work on drainage has not yet been completed.

Rainwater has accumulated on both sides of the underpass which can damage the road. “The government should pay attention towards such projects so that they can be completed within deadline. Even after missing several deadlines, the work of underpass has not been completed due to which commuters have to travel distance through other routes,” said Gagandeep Khaira, a resident of Rajguru Nagar.

It has been learnt that the project was abruptly halted for a few months after the work was started a few years back. Then, fresh tenders were floated by the railway authorities and GLADA. After allotting the new tender in December 2012, the work on the underpass had started in January 2013.

Earlier, the deadline for this project worth `37 crore was March this year, but the claims did not meet reality. In June, the officials had claimed that it will be completed by August 15.

When contacted, GLADA superintending engineer RK Jaidka, said, “A team of railway officials will visit next week for inspection. It will take one more month to complete the pending work. The construction work on adjoining road has also not been completed and if we open the underpass now then commuters can suffer.”