Six years on, Muktsar’s maiden railway overbridge incomplete

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, December 29

The work on the maiden railway over bridge (RoB) of Muktsar town is going on at a snail’s pace, as the state government has allegedly not paid money to the private firm after paying the first instalment.

The foundation stone of this RoB was laid in February, 2014 by the then Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Later, the groundbreaking ceremony was performed by PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla in January, 2019, who had said the Congress government would construct it at Rs 38.25 crore in the next 15 months (April, 2020). However, only the pillars have been erected on the ground, and a major portion of the work is still pending.

Sources said many factors had delayed the work, including shortage of funds, some alterations in the design and labour crunch due to the pandemic. Sham Lal Goyal, an activist of the National Consumer Awareness Group, said, “I have talked to the construction contractor and the authorities concerned, who told me that shortage of funds was the major reason. The private construction firm is yet to get the payment of works done by it, amounting to nearly Rs 6 crore.”

Kulbir Singh, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), said, “We are hopeful to complete the work by June 30, 2021. As of now, the construction firm has completed 35 per cent of the work. We have cleared the bills submitted to us, which are pending in the treasury office.”

The railway crossing on the Jalalabad road has been closed for commuters from February 13, 2019. It is affecting the business of the traders. Subhash Khurana, a businessman, said, “Nearly six years have passed after the foundation stone of the RoB was laid, but the work is still incomplete. Our business has been badly hit, but the authorities concerned seem to be least bothered.”