After missing several deadlines, the elevated highway project, which is expected to ease much of Ludhiana’s traffic issues, may be completed by this July. NHAI officials claimed that more than 83% of work on the project has been completed. The project, which started in 2018, will cover the stretch from Samrala Chowk to Cheema Chowk, Gill Chowk, Bus Stand, Bharat Nagar Chowk, where one part will go to Durga temple. It end at Ferozepur road octroi.
Last year, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials said the 12.951 kilometer elevated project would be completed by September 2022, then by March 2023. Now, authorities said it could be completed by this July. K L Sachdeva, NHAI project director for the elevated highway project, said resources, including manpower and machinery have been doubled to complete the project by July. According to the officer, the number of men working on the project has been increased from 100 to around 250. Work would be done in double shifts to expedite the project, he said.
NHAI officials said the flyover from Ferozepur road (near octroi) to Verka Plant is complete and traffic runs on it and work on the stretch between Ferozepur road bridge (on Sidhwan canal) to Bharat Nagar Chowk and from Bharat Nagar Chowk towards Bus Stand and Durga Mata Temple side is going on.
“We are facing some problem on the 400 meter stretch between Ferozepur road and Aarti Chowk as we are waiting for electric cables to be shifted from there. Hopefully, this stretch will be opened by June. After that, the stretch between Bhai Baala Chowk and Bharat Nagar Chowk and towards bus stand and Dugra Mata Temple is expected to be completed by July,” said the NHAI official.
Officials said an overbridge is being constructed at Bharat Nagar Chowk and work is being done from here to the bus stand. With part of the road heading towards Durga Mata temple, traffic will head towards Jagraon bridge.
Meanwhile, international road safety expert Kamaljit Soi said the elevated highway project was to be completed by 2021, but it has been delayed by around two years. He added that the delay not only causes road accidents but also resuled in air pollution. Soi, member of the National Road Safety Council, the apex body for road safety in India, alleged that road safety standards were not being followed and road safety furniture was not employed on the under-construction project, leading to accidents. He said they would move high court if safety guidelines. are not followed
“As road construction work has been going on between the bus stand and Bharat Nagar Chowk and towards Durga Mata temple, there are many traffic related issues, especially between the bus stand and Bharat Nagar Chowk area. This is great inconvenience for people. The agency concerned should complete the work without delay so that people don’t have to suffer,” said Keemti Rawal, a social activist from Chander Nagar. He added that he uses the road frequently and has even seen ambulances getting stuck in a traffic jam on the under-construction highway.
