Decks cleared for bridge over Ghaggar in Panchkula

Sanjay Bumbroo
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, June 19

Residents living across the Ghaggar have a reason to cheer as decks have been cleared for the construction of a bridge over the river in Sectors 26-27 and 20-21 in Panchkula with the Punjab Government according in-principle approval for the construction of the bridge and connecting road, falling in its jurisdiction to Haryana.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced this while presiding over a meeting with various departments here today to review the progress of announcements made by his government.

Manohar Lal said the matter regarding the construction of the bridge was being taken up in coordination with the Punjab Government. A portion of this proposed bridge falls in Punjab.

The Chief Minister also directed the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) to explore the possibilities of the construction of a road linking the NH-73 and the International Airport in Chandigarh so as to provide direct connectivity to the people of Barwala, Raipur Rani and Naraingarh.

It is pertinent to mention here that with the construction of the road, people living in sectors across the Ghaggar would have direct connectivity with the International Airport via Zirakpur. People of Zirakpur and Panchkula would be benefitted the most with the construction of the bridge.

According to information, the Zirakpur Municipal Council has also passed a resolution for providing land in 200 meter length for the construction of the bridge. However, the Forest Department, Punjab, is yet to give its approval for the transfer of half-acre land (700 metre in length) to be given for the project, sources said.

HSVP officials claim that it would take at least two years to complete the project. The road would be constructed from Sector 20-21 to Peer Muchalla village and further the bridge needs to be constructed from Peer Muchalla to Sector 26-27.

The Haryana Government would bear the cost of the construction of the bridge while the land was to be provided for the same by the Punjab Government, the officials said.

NK Payal, Executive Engineer, HSVP, said they were waiting for the land to be provided by the Forest Department. The design of the bridge had already been prepared and the cost of the project had been sanctioned by the Haryana Government.