Work on Muktsar rail bridge halted

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 4

The construction work on the Muktsar’s maiden railway overbridge (RoB) is lying halted for the past three weeks. Public Works Department Minister Vijay Inder Singla had performed its groundbreaking ceremony five months ago.

The bridge has to be completed within 15 months of the allotment of tenders to a private company. However, nothing has come up on the ground till date. Even some encroachments are yet to be removed and electricity poles relocated. The railway crossing on the Jalalabad road has been closed for the commuters due to the construction work and the residents are facing a lot of hardships due to some diversions. Sources claimed that the railway authorities have even sought some compensation for delay in work.

A local resident, Sham Lal, who is spearheading the movement for the RoB, said, “The load design of the overbridge is being revised. The earlier design was not approved by the authorities concerned, thus the work is halted. The total construction work by the private contractor had to be done in Rs 17 crore, but not even a single penny has been given to the company till date as the work progress has remained almost nil.”

He added that even the DChad visited the RoB site a few days ago. Meanwhile, Kulbir Singh, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), said, “The work is underway and the RoB will get ready before the given time limit.”