Punjab Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu today informed that the railways part of Pakhowal Road Rail Under Bridge (RUB)-2 would be completed by August 31, while the construction of the approach road of this project would start within this week. The Pakhowal Road RUB-2 would be used by vehicular traffic coming along the Sidhwan Canal and going towards Sarabha Nagar (near Skating rink).Accompanied by Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, Ludhiana Improvement Trust chairman Raman Balasubramaniam, MC councillor Mamta Ashu, MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal, Williamjit Singh, deputy chief engineer (Construction Division) of the Northern Railways and senior MC officials, Bharat Bhushan Ashu today visited the construction site and issued necessary directions to the officials.He said that the senior officials of Railways Department have assured that they would complete their part of Pakhowal Road RUB-2 would be completed by August 31, 2021. Williamjit Singh, deputy chief engineer (Construction Division) of the Northern Railways, said that during the second wave of Covid pandemic, the construction work got delayed because there was no supply of oxygen cylinders that are required for cutting of steel. However he has assured that the railways part on the RUB-3 would be now completed by August 31, 2021.
Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that the construction of Pakhowal Road ROB and RUB-1 is also going on in full swing.It is pertinent to mention that the construction work of a Rail Over Bridge (ROB) and two Rail Under Bridges (RUBs) is going on in full swing in the city. The construction of a Rail Over Bridge (ROB) and two Rail Under Bridges (RUB’s) on Pakhowal Road has been a long pending demand of the city residents. This joint project is worth around Rs 120 crore and would provide much-needed respite from traffic congestion to the city residents.He said that during the meeting with the Union Railways Minister in April this year, he had assured that this project would be completed at the earliest and had directed the Railway staff to prepare a time schedule and later submit progress report along with photographs every four weeks.He assured the residents that this project is close to his heart and would be completed within the set time frame as he is personally monitoring it on daily basis. He informed that the ROB would be 839.83 meters in length and would be constructed from Sidhwan Canal side towards Hero Bakery side, along Pakhowal Road over existing Railway Track, the RUB 1 would be 458.20 metres in length (from Hero Bakery side towards Sidhwan Canal side, along Pakhowal Road under existing Railway Track), whereas the RUB 2 would be 1018.46 metres in length.Ashu said that this project would prove beneficial for area residents who currently suffer due to traffic congestion on Pakhowal Road. He said that this project was one of the main promises that he had made with the residents of Ludhiana (West) constituency and he would personally supervise it.