Finally, 2-lane ROB on Bathinda-Badal road ----Punjab govt to bear the total cost of construction as Rlys refuse

Finally, 2-lane ROB on Bathinda-Badal road
Punjab govt to bear the total cost of construction as Rlys refuse
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 9
After the railway authorities flatly refused to bear the burden, the state government has initiated the construction of the railway overbridge (ROB) located on the Bathinda-Badal road, paying the cost to be incurred on it from the state exchequer.
It is reported that the construction of the ROB, nearly 1.25 km long, would cost nearly Rs 25 crore out of which Rs 4.5 crore is to be spent on the construction of the 35metre area above the railway tracks.
But the railway authorities, after assessing the road traffic and its requirement, had refused to bear the expenses, on the ground that the flow of traffic did not suggest any requirement for such an expensive ROB.
The controversy kept the project hanged fire for a couple of months and delayed it much behind the schedule.
It was said that the ROB was planned not to focus upon the requirements of the common man but because the road led to the native village of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
However, the state government cited a number of reasons like the upcoming projects in Ghudda village, located en route the Bathinda-Badal road, as the reason behind its necessity.
Finally, the state government has now agreed to bear the total cost of constructing the ROB and asked the PWD (B&R) officials to start the construction on the portion above the railway track.
It may be mentioned that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had directed the authorities concerned to modify the initial plan of developing a two-lane ROB by expanding it into a four-lane one.
When this order had been issued, out of the total ten pillars, seven had already been constructed that put the officials and contractors in a dilemma.
The proposed change had also created fresh trouble for the officials as it would have required fresh acquisition of land located adjacent to the ROB.
Meanwhile, officials of a Panchkula-based construction company, to whom the contract was allotted, suspended the work.
The government finally decided to stick to the earlier plan of a two-lane ROB.
Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), Baljeet Singh said, "Crossing all hurdles, we have now initiated the construction of the ROB. The company, which has been allotted the contract, has been asked to complete it by August this year."
He added that as the work over the railway track had been initiated, people would have to take diversions to reach their destinations.