Curtains for 150-yr-old level crossing

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, March 27

The construction of an underbridge also known as limited height subway (LHS) on the busy Court Road railway crossing has finally begun. Resultantly, about 150-year-old level crossing No. B-89 has been closed once for all.

The crossing had to be closed 20 times a day for passing of trains causing traffic snarls in the area.

After the persuasion of the district administration and NGOs, the construction was made possible. The PSPCL authorities allegedly got the project delayed as it prepared an exaggerated estimate of over Rs 50 lakh to remove the overhead high-tension cables. Later, the amount of the project was amended. The authorities also allegedly tried to create hindrances at the time of the commencement of the construction in the name of shifting poles, but the issue was resolved after the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner.

“The process for setting up the LHS will be completed in three months now,” said Deputy Commissioner Manpreet Singh. Nearly Rs 2.5 crore will be spent on the construction of the underbridge.

Prof Bhupinder Singh (retd) said the Court Road railway crossing was set up after the introduction of commercial meter gauge rail track on the Fazilka-Rewari route in 1869.

Once completed, the LHS would connect thousands of residents of Civil Lines, Jhule Lal Colony, Teachers’ Colony, Freedom Fighter Road, Improvement Trust Colony and MR Enclave besides the residences of Deputy Commissioner, Senior Superintendent of Police and several senior judges with the main town.

Delayed project

• The PSPCL authorities allegedly got the project delayed as it prepared an exaggerated estimate of over Rs 50 lakh to remove the overhead high-tension cables. Later, the amount of the project was amended. 
• The authorities also allegedly tried to create hindrances at the time of the commencement of the construction in the name of shifting poles, but the issue was resolved after the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner.