Proposal to alter design, Muktsar RoB set to be delayed again

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 31

Already running behind the schedule, the maiden railway overbridge (RoB) of Muktsar town is again set to miss its deadline as there is a proposal to change its design.

Notably, the foundation stone of the RoB was laid by then Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in February 2014 and the groundbreaking ceremony was performed by PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla in January 2019. Singla had claimed the Congress government would construct it in next 15 months i.e. by April 2020.

To cost Rs1.5 cr more

The length and width of the carriageway of the RoB will remain unchanged. However, the alteration in the existing design will increase the cost by nearly Rs1.5 crore. technical expert

Later, it was said the RoB would be completed by the end of 2021. However, a lot of work is still pending and now PWD (B&R) officials have made a report recommending a change in design, which would be submitted to senior officers in a day or two.

A technical expert associated with the project said some shopkeepers in the old grain market had demanded a passage connecting Tibbi Sahib Road. “We have conducted a survey and prepared a report. The length and width of the carriageway of the RoB will remain unchanged. However, the alteration in the existing design will increase the cost by nearly Rs 1.5 crore. As per the pre-finalised design, the RoB had 17 columns. Now, there is a need to build four more columns for its strength, which will increase the cost. Besides, there are sewage pipes which are creating trouble,” said the expert.

On this, Kulbir Singh, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), Muktsar, said, “Some shopkeepers have raised the demand of a passage under the RoB to connect the old grain market with Tibbi Sahib Road. We have prepared a report, which is, however, yet to be submitted to the high-ups.”