Delay in completion of railway overbridge project angers residents of Bhiwani

The prolonged delay in the completion of the railway overbridge (ROB) project at the local Jeetuwala crossing on the Rewari Bathinda rail section in Bhiwani town has angered residents living in the nearby localities.

Residents, who formed a mahapanchayat to press the demand for timely completion of the project, have announced that they would complain to the Public Works Department (PWD) and Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Ranbir Gangwa during his scheduled visit to Bhiwani town on January 12.

Rohtas Verma, a member of the mahapanchayat, said they would hand over a memorandum to highlight the hardships being faced by residents and urge the minister to ensure the project’s timely completion. He said that the project got underway in April 2021 and was expected to be completed and operational by September 30. However, more than a year later, the construction remains unfinished, disrupting daily life and causing inconvenience to public.

Activists said despite taking up the matter with the administration and the ruling party leaders innumerable times, nothing had been done to redress the issue. “The delay in construction has led to traffic diversions, dug-up roads, restricted pedestrian access and obstruction of pathways for the residents living across the railway line,” said Verma.

Verma said, “Officials have been making excuses one after the other for delays like Model Code of Conduct during the election, labour shortage during festivals and inter-departmental issues within government offices. They also demanded a clear deadline for the project’s completion.”

The residents are concerned about the lack of progress on work to lay the Dinod Road. Despite assurances from the Municipal Council to expedite the road’s construction, the work remained almost halted, adding to the community’s grievances.