RailEnquiry

Bathinda :
Monday will be an eventful day for the railway under bridge (RUB) on the Bathinda-Mansa road. The design for re-structuring collapsed portions is expected to arrive from the Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh. Besides, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Delhi division, is expected to decide on the plea of the district administration for opening the old railway crossing barricade near the Central University of Punjab.Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav said the DRM would respond tomorrow about the opening of the railway crossing No. D 240. “We have sent a request to open the old route for light vehicles. Heavy vehicles will continue to take the diverted route via Jodhpur Romana village,” he said, adding that efforts were being made to open the path through Phus Mandi village. “Very soon, we will be able to open the second route from Phus Mandi side for light vehicles to enable smooth movement of traffic,” he said.Superintenting Engineer PWD (B&R) Madan Lal said dismantling would be completed by tonight. “We expect the new design from the PEC to arrive by tomorrow. The moment the designs are delivered to us, we will be on the job of re-structuring the collapsed portion,” he said.The re-structuring will be done in phases. The department plans to re-structure the collapsed portion first and open it for light vehicles. Thereafter, work on the opposite wall will be taken up.

The committee formed to inquire into the incident is also expected to submit its report to the state government tomorrow. The report will then be marked to the district administration for further action.

Quick recap

The retaining panel of the RUB collapsed on June 15 following incessant rain.
Inaugurated on July 21 last year, the structure failed to withstand pre-monsoon showers.
The technical adviser to the Chief Minister, Lieutenant-General BS Dhaliwal (retd) is spearheading the technical committee inquiring into the incident of wall collapse.