Title - PWD inspects over-bridge site

Mandi Ahmedgarh: Residents see a ray of hope for getting their long-pending demand of construction of an over bridge or under bridge at certain crucial level crossings on the Ludhiana-Dhuri line after Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal sent a high-power team to inspect these crossings today.A team of officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) led by sectional officer AS Brar after inspecting the railway crossings at Pohir Road, Jagera Road and Jandali Road assured the SAD and BJP leaders, led by legislator Iqbal Singh Jhoondan and president, municipal council, that the final report recommending an under bridge at one of the crossings would be sent to the office of the Deputy Chief Minister soon.“We have studied traffic problems related to frequent closure of the crossing at all three roads leading to the town and will be submitting our report to the Deputy Chief Minister’s office through our seniors,” said Brar, adding that the team had recognised the need of construction of at least one under bridge for solving problems related with frequent closure of the railway crossing.Iqbal Singh Jhoondan said he had taken up the issue with the Deputy Chief Minister a few days ago and the latter had promised to get the problem solved without further delay.Though the process for construction of an over bridge at Pohir Road had been started earlier, too, it could not reach a conclusive end for want of funds from the state government. “Though the Union government had agreed to construct the bridge earlier, too, the process could not be completed as the state government had declined to pool the cost. Now the Deputy Chief Minister has assured that the state government will deposit its share when required,” said Jhoondan.

Frequent and undue closure of level crossings at the Pohir, Jandali and Jagera roads had not only become a nightmare for commuters but also for residents, shopkeepers and pedestrians, who suffer due to traffic jams on both roads.

The residents alleged that officials cared a little for the rule-governing operation of level crossings and as a result there had been frequent scuffles with railway employee manning the level crossing over the issue of closure of gate for longer durations.

Owners of shops and workshops located on both sides of the Pohir and Jagera roads had alleged that their business was affected adversely due to the frequent closure of the level crossings during daytime. Finding it difficult to negotiate the traffic jams, clients had stopped coming to these shops.

The menace had also given rise to the law and order problem for the police. At times, it takes hours to clear the jams and resolve dispute arising out of the situation.