2 yrs on, Mubarikpur railway underpass still incomplete

Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, February 4

With three deadlines already missed, the Mubarikpur railway underpass is yet to be completed.

As a result, area residents take a longer route via Dera Bassi, causing congestion in the city.

The Rs 5-crore project was started in January 2017 with an aim to facilitate a barrier-free movement of traffic at one of the town’s busiest intersections on the Ambala-Kalka rail line. It was to be completed in April 2017, but the authorities got the deadline extended to October and further to December 2017.

KP Singh, XEN, Railways, said it would still take a month. He said due to rain and technical formalities, the work was delayed. “The underpass will be ready by February-end,” he added.

Apart from commuters, the slow pace of work has hit traders as well. The business has halved since the construction work started,” said a trader.

Rajinder Singh, a local resident, said the resentment was brewing among residents over the delay in the construction of the underpass. He said it took an hour to reach Chandigarh from his residence due to the construction work. “There should be some penalty for the delay,” Singh rued.

Likely To be ready by month-end

• KP Singh, XEN, Railways,  said it would still take a month. He said due to rain and  technical formalities, the work was delayed. “The underpass will be ready by February-end,” he added

• The Rs 5-crore project was started in  January 2017 to facilitate a barrier-free movement of traffic at one of the town’s busiest intersections on  the Ambala-Kalka rail line. It was to be  completed in April 2017, but the authorities got the deadline extended  to October and further to December.