Domoria bridge partially open, NGO calls up Bittu to expedite work

To express discontent against the delay in opening the other side of Domoria bridge for traffic, members of the NGO Yuvaa staged a protest at the project site, where they banged pots to draw attention to the issue.

During the protest, a member of the NGO, Kumar Gaurav, contacted Union Railway Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on phone and inquired about the bridge’s opening. Although initially unaware of the situation, Bittu assured Kumar Gaurav that efforts would be made to open the bridge within a week. This assurance has brought some hope to the residents, who are eagerly awaiting the bridge’s completion.

The bridge’s widening project, undertaken by the railway administration, aimed to enhance passenger facilities by increasing the number of rail tracks. The project involved widening the Domoria bridge near Ludhiana railway junction to accommodate the growing traffic. However, after three months of closure, the railway contractor has only managed to complete work on one side of the bridge. While one side was opened on March 20, the single-lane traffic poses a risk of head-on collisions, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Despite assurances that the second part would be opened in April, the Municipal Corporation officials are yet to provide a clear timeline, with half of May already having crossed. Local shopkeepers are suffering due to the disorganised traffic, which is affecting their business. The prolonged closure has resulted in a significant loss of revenue for these shopkeepers, who are struggling to make ends meet.

Municipal Commissioner Aditya Dachalwal stated that the railway administration has not provided a clear update on the situation. He assured that he would instruct his officers to coordinate with the railways to resolve the issue. The residents are hopeful that the authorities will take necessary steps to complete the bridge’s construction and open it to traffic soon.

Widening work

The bridge’s widening project, undertaken by the railway administration, aimed to enhance passenger facilities by increasing the number of rail tracks. The project involved widening the Domoria bridge near Ludhiana railway junction to accommodate the growing traffic.