Delay of Chheharta ROB adding to hassles

Chheharta railway crossing, the only way connecting many villages and the important gurdwara 7 kilometres from here, remains clogged with traffic.

Chheharta railway crossing, the only way connecting many villages and the important gurdwara 7 kilometres from here, remains clogged with traffic.

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People hope for reopening of a railway over bridge (ROB) but have received nothing by empty commitment. Approaching the crossing from Chheharta Chowk, drivers have to negotiate potholes, heaps of garbage, and dusty sections. "We had a man note how many vehicles took the crossing in a day. He counted 10,000," said VS Mann, member of the grievances committee at Guru Di Wadali village.

The shutting of the bridge for long has exaggerated the traffic problem. "Most trains pass Chheharta during rush hour, when school and offices open and close for the day," said Angrej Singh, a local. "The loading and unloading of goods trains takes long, adding to the logjam," said Jaskiran Singh, another man from the area.

The MC came out with development plans for the ROBs on Tarn Taran road, Jaura Phatak, and Chheharta crossing, but at the last point, things are still waiting to be done. The locals have written to the area councillor, deputy commissioner, municipal corporation, and higher authorities but seen nothing except scribbled work.

Showing the letters written to authorities, VS Mann said: "We are fed up with all the big talk that has yielded nothing. Our last option is to move the high court."

Shopkeepers the road block

Shopkeepers' disapproving of the ROB is also delaying the project. "It's unfair to favour a few to secure vote bank," said Mann. "We also face problem because of traffic but expect some other way of connecting villagers to the main road, considering the financial loss we might have to suffer during the bridge's construction," said a shopkeeper.

Peoplespeak

We are fed up with all the big talk. Our last option is to move the high court VS Mann, member of Guru Di Wadali grievance committee

Industries and schools aren't coming here, property market is down and migration has increased Master Tara Singh, Chheharta resident

Because of the long shutdown of the bridge, ambulance can't get to the emergency spots in time. At times, the delay is fatal Amreek Singh, Chheharta resident

Sheer negligence of the authorities concerned is evident a Chheharta Gurmeet Singh, Chheharta resident

We also want so solution to it but a few shopkeepers are still not in favor (of the ROB) Devinder Kumar, a shopkeeper.

Officialspeak

Report is with the Government of India and is yet to be cleared DPS Kharbanda, Municipal commissioner

There sure is an issue; consensus or not, if the authority decides to act, nothing can deter it Om Praksah Gabbar, area counsellor