Bridge near Chand Cinema in Ludhiana to miss completion deadline
Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 5
The construction work of a bridge across Buddha Nullah near Chand Cinema would miss its completion deadline fast approaching in September. Only a month is left and still a substantial portion of bridge work remains unfinished.
Since the project was delayed in the beginning itself, now its completion is expected to coincide with the deadline for the Smart Cities Mission on March, 31, 2025.
The bridge would miss its deadline for completion. It would likely be completed by next year. March 31, 2025, is the deadline for the Smart Cities Mission. We are expecting to complete the bridge by then. The municipal corporation has got funds for the project which would be released in instalments as the work progresses. Sandeep Rishi, MC Commissioner
The bridge was declared unsafe in 2011. In 2018, it was closed for heavy traffic and then in 2021, it was completely shut for all vehicles by diverting the traffic to an adjacent bridge. A few incidents of bricks falling on commuters passing under the bridge have also happened.
The construction work of the bridge was entrusted to the Public Works Department, Building and Roads (PWD B&R). It is being funded by Ludhiana Smart City Limited (LSCL).
The project is expected to cost Rs 8.25 crore. Construction work was started in December 2023 and nine-month time was given for its completion. Two instalments of around Rs 2 and Rs 3 crore have been released by the municipal corporation (MC) so far for the project. The remaining amount would be released as the work progresses. The project is being carried under the Smart Cities Mission.
MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said the bridge would miss its deadline for completion. He said it would likely be completed by next year. “March 31, 2025, is the deadline for the Smart Cities Mission. We are expecting to complete the bridge by then. The MC has got funds which would be released in instalments as the work progresses,” he said.
Officials from the PWD (B&R) said funds for the said project were not released on time in the beginning which delayed the construction. The work was started nearly three months after the allotment of the project.
Slice of history
The bridge near Chand Cinema is said to be 100-year-old. It was constructed during the British regime. The bridge is also known as Chand Cinema Bridge as it is in close proximity with Chand Cinema. It was made of red bricks.
