Rs 90-cr Surajpur-Sukhomajri bypass work hits roadblock

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 1

The Surajpur-Sukhomajri bypass has hit a road block as the two railway underpasses on the 7.70 km long route are yet to be constructed even as the 90 per cent work has been completed by the construction company.

The construction work of both railway underpasses on the bypass could not be undertaken due to the movement of trains. As a result, people are not able to use the bypass built at a cost of Rs90 crore. Vijay Bansal, President, Shivalik Vikas Manch

After taking technical opinion the construction company had written to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Northern Railway, demanding to stop trains coming towards Kalka station for a week. The company authorities have said, “Trains coming towards Kalka should be stopped at the Chandimandir railway station for a week so that underpasses could be constructed.”

President of the Shivalik Vikas Manch Vijay Bansal said the construction work of both railway underpasses on the bypass could not be undertaken due to movement of trains. As a result people were not able use bypass built at a cost of Rs90 crores, he added. There were frequent traffic jams in Pinjore as hundreds of heavy vehicles heading for the Baddi industrial area passed through the town daily, he said.

There was restriction on entry of heavy vehicles during three times slots in Pinjore, but the permanent solution was construction of bypass, he added.

In 2007, the Haryana Urban Development Authority had acquired 232 acres for the bypass, he said. There was a demanded that the Surajpur- Sukhomajri bypass should be constructed by the NHAI and no toll plaza should be installed here, which was accepted, he added.

To expedite construction of the bypass, a public interest litigation number 8226/2014 was filed in the Punjab Haryana High Court on April 30, 2014. Acting on the PIL the court had ordered the government to initiate steps for the construction. However, the Union Ministry of Transport and Highways ordered the Chief Engineer in the ministry to take immediate action in the matter.