Finally, GLADA begins work on approach roads to ROB

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 7

Finally, nine years after initiating the process of acquiring the land for the missing link 2 project, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has started the construction work of approach roads to a railway overbridge (ROB). GLADA is to construct approach roads to ROB while the Railways is to construct the bridge portion over the tracks.

As the project had been getting delayed for a long time, an NGO had moved the Punjab & Haryana High Court in 2016. In September 2019, the Punjab & Haryana High Court had directed the authorities concerned to file their respective affidavits indicating progress made in the project and also specify the period within which the project shall be completed. The next hearing is scheduled to be held in January 2020.

GLADA had earlier constructed a stretch from Dhandra Road to Dhuri railway line and another stretch on Gill village side under the missing link 2 project around two years ago. This railway overbridge would connect these two stretches.

A number of area residents wanted that the Railways must do the needful for the construction of the bridge portion under its jurisdiction so that the ROB can be completed at the earliest.

Jashanpreet Singh, a businessman, said: “GLADA has started the construction of approach roads to the railway overbridge. Now, the Railways should also start the process for the construction of its part of ROB at the earliest. GLADA had started acquiring the land for the project in 2010, but still the project has not been completed.”

Darshan Singh Shankar, a Congress leader, said, “The project should not be delayed any more. Once the project is completed, commuters can easily travel between Ferozepur Road and Gill Road. The district administration should take up the matter with the Railways to start the construction of its part of the ROB.”

GLADA Executive Engineer Jasjot Singh said: “We have started the work for the construction of approach roads to the railway overbridge under the GLADA’s jurisdiction. Now, the Railways should construct the ROB part under its jurisdiction.”

According to information, the proposed missing link 2 road of around 4.5 km has been divided in three parts, Dhandra Road to Dhuri railway line, Dhuri Railway line to Gill Road and then Malerkotla Road to Southern Bypass (alongside Sidhwan Canal). Once this railway overbridge under the missing link 2 project is constructed, the commuters will be able to travel between Gill Road and Ferozepur Road via Lodhi Club Road and Phullanwal Chowk in less time.