Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 12

Objection by the Army over undergoing construction of railway overbridge (ROB) at Vallah railway crossing has stalled its civil work.

The Army in a communiqué to the Improvement Trust has directed it to stop the construction of ROB as it falls within the no-construction zone of the ammunition dump at Vallah.

As per notification issued on November 11, 2004, any construction in 1,000 yards parapet of the ammunition dump is prohibited.

Rajiv Sekhri, Superintending Engineer, Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), said the trust applied for the NOC from the defence authorities. He stated that a minor portion of the ROB at the Vallah side falls at the fag end of no-construction zone. “It was mentioned that the ROB was being raised in the larger interest of the public to provide them smooth movement and remove traffic congestion”.

Almost all pier caps have been constructed on both sides of the ROB which will have a span of about 800 meters. Once completed, it will be the maiden bowstring shape ROB in entire city.

People regularly commuting on the road are irked at deserting of the work midway. They said pier caps (beams) are constructed in the middle of the road, gobbling up the precious space.

Krishan Kumar, a trader, has said they have been facing traffic congestions with a satisfaction that it will eventually give way to the ROB that will redress all their problems. Commuters have been urging the government for decades to raise the ROB over the Vallah railway crossing which falls on the Amritsar-Delhi railway line to offer them a permanent reprieve from traffic jams. CM Capt Amarinder Singh had laid the foundation stone of the ROB on October 15, 2018.