Underpass approved for village, relief for residents

An underpass has been approved at Bassi Ghulam Hussain village following intervention by former Union Minister of State Vijay Sampla, bringing major relief to residents, who had been protesting the closure of their main village road due to ongoing highway construction. The decision came after the issue was highlighted by Shiromani Akali Dal national vice-president Sanjeev Talwar.

Village representatives said the 16.5-foot-wide road linking the village to the Kandi Canal service road was being blocked by the highway authority. As the road lies at a lower level, it also serves as the primary outlet for rainwater drainage, and its closure had raised fears of severe waterlogging during the monsoon.

Despite repeated representations to the government, the villagers had failed to secure a solution and were forced to stage a protest. Following Sampla’s intervention, officials agreed to construct an underpass at the site, addressing both connectivity and drainage concerns.

Welcoming the decision, farmer leader Aman, Sarpanch Sukhjinder Singh and other panchayat members said the move would prevent future hardships for villagers. Vijay Sampla stated that while infrastructure development is necessary, public convenience and safety must not be compromised, assuring residents that any further issues would be taken up promptly.