Title - Villagers await approach road

Mandi Gobindgarh : Over 40 years of wait of residents for a connecting road of between Mandi and Gobindgarh villages seems to be far from over. Though a railway under-bridge (RUB) to connect the two villages was constructed last year, the district administration has failed to construct an approach road to the RUB.The main hurdle for the project is alleged undue interference by local political leaders who seem to be least bothered about the inconvenience being faced by the people.Mandi Gobindgarh town, also known as the "steel city of Punjab" is divided into two parts by railway lines. Gobindgarh village is situated on the eastern side of the railway line while Mandi, which was established by Maharaja Heera Singh of Nabha, is located on the southwest direction.In the absence of an approach road, the RUB has failed to serve its purpose as the traffic could not be diverted through it allegedly due to political interference. Leaders of two major political parties had organised functions to take credit for the project and even installed foundation stones on both two sides of the RUB. One of these was damaged by some unidentified persons and a case has also been registered in this regard.The residents said even though the RUB was ready, they could not use it as the same had been blocked on both sides by the municipal council authorities. Akali and Congress councillors blame each other for obstructing development projects in the area. Residents and members of the Nishkam Kirtan Sewa Society, a welfare body, have urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to intervene in the matter so that an approach road to the RUB could be constructed soon.

LITTLE HOPE

n A railway under-bridge (RUB) was constructed last year to connect Mandi and Gobindgarh villages

n But the district administration has failed to construct an approach road to the RUB

n The main hurdle for the project is alleged undue interference by local political leaders