NGOs, leaders resent apathy of MC, Rlys

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 14

Social activists and the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) today held a mock protest to observe the ‘third closure anniversary’ of the Jagraon Bridge which connects the old city areas to Bharat Nagar Chowk on Ferozepur Road. The residents are exasperated over the inordinate delay in completion of repair work on one side of the bridge.

The YAD district president, Gurdeep Singh Gosha, and district president of SAD Ranjit Singh Dhillon, social activists Kumar Gaurav and Rahul Verma blamed both the state government and the Municipal Corporation for the delay in reopening the bridge. During the protest, focus remained on the apathy of the agencies concerned and their lack of coordination with the Northern Railway authorities, who were to reconstruct the part of the bridge over the tracks.

The protesters alleged that the state Government and the Municipal Corporation delayed the release of funds for repair work and thereafter the railway authorities also took their time in preparation and final approval of drawings for the proposed widening of the damaged part of the bridge.

“It is shameful that the repair work which require not more than six months time, has not been completed even in three years,” Gosha said, lauding the efforts of NGOs and social activists to keep the issue alive and keep knocking the doors of the government, the MC and the Railways to reopen the bridge soon.