ROB work begins, traffic snarls haunt residents

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 25

As the construction of a railway over bridge (ROB) and two under bridges (RUBs) on Pakhowal Road has begun, residents are apprehensive of its effect on the city traffic.

Activists of various NGOs have requested the government to get the Vikas Nagar level crossing between Pakhowal Road and BRS Nagar along Sidhwan Canal reopened to ease the traffic. It was closed after the construction of the Southern Bypass flyover.

Chairman of Indian Institute of Architects Sanjay Goel said work on Pakhowal Road was at initial stage. But there is a need to make a proper planning to prevent traffic snarls in the coming days, he said.

“The civic body must talk to the Railways to put the stretch between Pakhowal Road and BRS Nagar along Sidhwan Canal in use by opening the Vikas Nagar level crossing till the completion of the ROB and RUBs,” he said.

Kapil Arora, president of Council of Engineers, said: “Traffic snarls maybe witnessed in the coming days when big machines will be pressed into service on Pakhowal Road. The authorities concerned should make a proper planning for traffic diversion. The Pakhowal Road stretch where construction is going on should be made one way. The traffic from the Bhai Bala Chowk side should be diverted through Ishmeet Chowk to the Pakhowal Road canal bridge side. It will be better if the level crossing on the stretch along Sidhwan Canal is reopened.”

Company to submit diversion plan soon: MC

An MC official said the company would submit a diversion plan soon and measures will be taken to regulate the traffic. Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said work was in its initial stage but they would come up with a diversion plan soon. He said they would write to Ferozepur Division of the Railways for reopening the Vikas Nagar level crossing for the time being.

The ROB would be 839.83 metre in length and would be constructed from the Sidhwan Canal side towards Hero Bakery along Pakhowal Road over the existing tracks. The RUB 1 would be 458.20 metre in length (from the Hero Bakery side towards Sidhwan Canal under the existing tracks) whereas the RUB 2 would be 1018.46 metre in length (from Ishmeet Road towards Rotary Club Road).

Traffic jams are a common sight on Ferozepur Road due to the ongoing construction of an elevated road. The servi ce lane along the elevated road have not been constructed yet. Besides, the reconstruction of Jagraon Bridge has not been completed yet.

Expert suggestion

Kapil Arora, president of Council of Engineers, said: “Traffic snarls maybe witnessed in the coming days when big machines will be pressed into service on Pakhowal Road. The authorities concerned should make a proper planning for traffic diversion. The Pakhowal Road stretch where construction is going on should be made one way. The traffic from the Bhai Bala Chowk side should be diverted through Ishmeet Chowk to the Pakhowal Road canal bridge side. It will be better if the level crossing on the stretch along Sidhwan Canal is reopened.”