Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone for his dream project, construction of a bypass at Baghapurana in Moga district, to solve the heavy traffic problem four years ago in 2010. However, due to lack of sufficient funds, the project is in limbo till now.
Accidents are commonplace in the absence of the bypass in the area. Local residents are of the opinion that if a bypass is constructed, traffic can be smoothened. Interestingly, the state government provided funds for the project twice but the same lapsed every time. There was a proposal to construct a bypass from Kotkapura-Moga state highway to Mudki-Nihal Singh Wala road to divert heavy traffic.
The interest of the authorities in the project can be gauged from the fact that 'unidentified' people took away the foundation stone, along with the bricks, used to install it near Rajeana village adjoining the Baghapurana town. There is not a single sign of the milestone now.
Ex- serviceman Subedar Charan Singh, a resident of Baghapurana, alleged that the state government had promised the bypass project to be a model project but it had failed to even take off. Singh said the residents reminded Sukhbir about the project but got nothing except fake promises.
Darshan Singh Brar, president of the district Congress committee who was also the Congress MLA from Baghapurana, said, "Actually, the SAD-BJP government is trying to fool the innocent people of Punjab. How can the bypass project be completed when the government has failed to pay wages to the employees of various departments? The Congress workers of Baghapurana area will start an agitation soon against the incomplete project."
{{/usCountry}}Darshan Singh Brar, president of the district Congress committee who was also the Congress MLA from Baghapurana, said, "Actually, the SAD-BJP government is trying to fool the innocent people of Punjab. How can the bypass project be completed when the government has failed to pay wages to the employees of various departments? The Congress workers of Baghapurana area will start an agitation soon against the incomplete project."
{{/usCountry}}Teerath Singh Mahla, president of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said a deputation of local SAD leaders had met the deputy chief minister recently and he had assured the release of funds at the earliest. He added Congress should stop politics on the issue.
When contacted, Moga deputy commissioner Parminder Singh Gill said that if the situation persisted due to lack of funds, he would write to the authority concerned immediately.