Work on Ladhewali flyover begins, rail crossing shut

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 27

Work on the Chugitti-Ladhewali flyover has begun with the authorities concerned closing the railway crossing and starting road digging work. As a result, residents were an inconvenienced lot with the closure of the road.

Since the flyover work will continue for almost 18 months, residents will have to take diversions to reach their destinations on either side of the crossing. There are at least 20 colonies in the Ladhewali area, which also has schools and colleges. The Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus, where hundreds of engineering, law and journalism students are studying, also falls in this area.

One of the nearest new diversion towards Ladhewali for residents is from near Lawrence International School, where commuters will cross a similar railway track. “It is not a good passage if someone is riding in an SUV. The passage is narrow and the volume of traffic on this side has increased. Also, since there are 70 trains plying on this track every day, the rush of vehicles on the closing of the track every time increases too much,” said Mandeep Sharma, a resident of New Defence Colony.

The second option for residents is to follow the route — the PAP Chowk-Rama Mandi-Hoshiarpur Road-Nangal Shama gate-Ladhewali. Most residents feel that though the railway track can be avoided on this route, it is a very long detour. Bachan Lal, a resident of Gulmarg Colony of Ladhewali area, said, “We have started going down this route for the reason that we do not have to wait for the trains to pass and there is already a flyover on this route.”

Guntas Singh, a collegiate, however, says he would prefer the first option, “Ever since the lockdown started, there are fewer trains passing and hence going from the new track will be a better option. I do not mind waiting for 10-15 minutes for trains to pass but I surely do not want to take the longer detour via highways. It is really treacherous and painstaking.” Jalandhar Central MLA Rajinder Beri maintains, “Though residents would be affected owing to alternate routes, but the construction of a flyover here will be a great boon for them in the years to come.” The foundation stone for the work was laid on December 30. The work is to be carried out at a cost of Rs 23.5 crore.