Chandigarh, July 10: The construction work on 24 Railway Over Bridges (ROB) in Punjab was put on fast track as PWD (B&R) and Railway authorities today held a joint meeting to sort out problems being faced in the expeditious completion of these vital bridges.
Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD (B&R) Minister today held a detailed meeting with Railway authorities at Civil Secretariat and reviewed the progress of each ROB. The Minister pointed out that with the increasing traffic and expansion of road network; the incomplete Railway Over Bridges were acting as traffic bottle necks. He pointed out that though work on 50 percent of Railway Over Bridges was slightly behind the schedule but in others the delay was quite long. It was pointed out that Railway authorities should sort out problems with concerned contractors for ROB Beas, ROB Morinda bye pass, ROB Jagraon, ROB Tanda, ROB Suche pind, ROB Jalandhar city (Maksoodan) as construction was quite tardy. The Minister requested the railway authorities to allot the work expeditiously on various ROBs and also sort out contractual problems with past contractors.
Mr. Dhindsa pointed out that PWD department has already completed its part of work on most of the Railway Over Bridges and Railway has to get the work completed on their portion. He said that due to delay in the completion of ROBs, besides cost escalation, public at large was being put to quite inconvenience as service roads constructed beside the bridge have also caved in.
The Minister also sought the intervention of Railway authorities in early completion of two ROBs in Bhatinda beside one Railway Under Bridge. The Railway was requested to expedite work on Railway Under Bridge Mansa and ROB Phagwara.
The Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala Mr. H.K. Jaggi assured the Minister that he would coordinate with various agencies and Divisions of Railway to get the work on these 24 ROBs completed at the earliest.
The Minister also requested the Railway to introduce sufficient shuttle trains on Ludhiana-Chandigarh route to relieve public from road traffic congestion. The Railway was also requested to reconstruct bridges and culverts on water channels on sharing basis. The Minister also made a plea for introducing computerized ticket reservation from Sunam Railway Station. A request was made to upgrade maximum number of Railway Stations in Punjab in view of increased rail traffic.
Besides Senior officials of PWD department, Mr. Gulshan, Senior Division Operational Manager and Mr. Karam Singh, Senior Division Commercial Manager also participated in the meeting.