4-lane Doraha rail overbridge to transform connectivity in Malwa: Bittu
Union minister says the project estimated to cost Rs 70.55 crore will be completed within the next year
The four-lane railway overbridge (ROB) in Doraha will emerge as a landmark infrastructure project, strengthening connectivity between the Malwa region, Chandigarh and adjoining districts, said Ravneet Singh Bittu, Union Minister of State for Railways.
He was addressing the media after laying the foundation stone of the much-awaited overbridge. Bittu said the project, estimated to cost ₹70.55 crore, will be completed within the next year. He emphasised the work will proceed on war footing and the overbridge will be opened to the public at the earliest, bringing relief to commuters who have faced inconvenience for nearly 12 years.
Vinod Bhatia, Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala; and Rajiv Ranjan Raju, chief engineer, road safety project were among the senior officials present on the occasion.
Bittu pointed out that the level crossing in Doraha is on a vital road stretch connecting Ropar to Ludhiana. He noted that nearly 190 trains 3,000 vehicles pass through the crossing every day.
He said the frequent closures due to rail traffic caused persistent congestions, posing significant hardships for commuters, traders and transporters.
Bittu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for sanctioning the project. He said the overbridge will also accelerate economic activity in the region by ensuring seamless movement of goods and services.
On ongoing railway infrastructure development, the minister said works on railway overbridges, underbridges and low-height subways are currently underway at 166 locations in the state, with the total investment amounting to Rs 1,480 crore.
He claimed that at Rs 5,673 crore, the current annual railway budget for Punjab is nearly 25 times higher than during the 2009-2014 period.
“Currently, infrastructure projects worth ₹26,382 crore are in progress across Punjab, encompassing new track construction, station redevelopment, safety enhancement measures and other capacity augmentation initiatives,” said Bittu, adding that 30 railway stations in the state are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The total investment for redevelopment is around Rs 1,311 crore.
The minister hailed PM Modi and the Union railways minister for approving the third and fourth rail lines between Delhi and Ambala. He said this project forms part of the broader initiative to quadruple the highly utilised Delhi-Jammu corridor, a crucial arterial route linking Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) with northern states.
