7 years on, Baltana RUB a step closer to reality

After nearly seven years, the much-awaited Raipur Kalan-Harmilap Nagar railway underbridge (RUB) project in Baltana has made some progress. The UT Administration has issued a notification for the acquisition of nearly 0.74 acre land in Raipur Kalan for the construction of the RUB at the level crossing No. 123-C.

To provide relief to residents of Harmilap Nagar, Baltana and nearby areas from frequent jams at the level crossing, the project was conceived seven years ago, but remained in limbo due to the delay in acquisition of land.

According to officials, the Punjab Government has also given approval to the acquisition of the land on its side.

According to the Social Impact Assessment report, people are not likely to be displaced in this acquisition, but two families of Raipur Kalan village will lose agricultural land.

Partap Singh Rana, husband of Usha Rani, councillor from Harmilap Nagar, said the project report was prepared in 2017. The land acquisition process was to be completed by January this year and construction work by April. The RUB is a long-standing demand of the local residents, which now seemed to be fulfilled after a long wait, he added.