Railways nod to underbridge at Dhakoli level crossing

Zirakpur, July 16

Giving a major relief from long wait and traffic jams, the Northern Railway has finally sanctioned a limited height subway (2x7mX3.50m) at the Dhakoli level crossing.

The Rs 11.70-crore underbridge sanctioned by the Divisional Office, Northern Railway, Ambala Cantonment, will be built on a cost sharing basis with the state government. Both the Railways and the Punjab Government will contribute Rs 5.85 crore each.

The Railways has written to the Zirakpur Municipal Council to deposit the amount with the Senior Divisional Finance Manager so that the project can be started.

Mohali DC Aashika Jain said, “The state government’s contribution has been sanctioned.”

The detailed project report was submitted to the Railways in September last year.

KR Sharma, president, Unified Residents’ Welfare Association, said, “We hope the project is completed at the earliest providing relief to local residents from traffic jams at the level crossing.”

Thousands of Zirakpur residents face inconvenience at the level crossing every day. Residents of around 60 housing societies in the area use the road commuting to Zirakpur, Chandigarh and nearby towns. They get stuck in traffic jams at the level crossing for about half an hour during the morning and evening rush hours.

Residents of Baltana have also been demanding an underbridge at the level crossing there for a long time.