Baltana residents block railway track, say expedite underpass project : The Tribune India

Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, September 5

A group of people staged a protest against the Chandigarh Administration and the railway authorities for delaying the construction of an underpass near Harmilap Nagar, Raipur Kalan, at railway gate number 123 on the Chandigarh-Ambala track here today.

The protesters, led by Pratap Singh Rana, president of a joint action committee for the welfare of Baltana residents, were demanding an early construction of an underpass at the crossing so as to end harassment to commuters as well as area residents. The protesters laid down on the track, delaying the Kalka-Delhi Janshatabdi for over 10 minutes. Police force reached the spot and removed the protesters from the track.

Zirakpur Municipal Council president Udayvir Singh Dhillon too reached there and sought an early resolution of the matter.

‘Daily hassle for commuters’

Office-goers, schoolchildren and ambulances have to wait at the level crossing for a long time in the morning and evening hours. There are close to 36 housing societies here, residents of which are directly hit. — Raj Kumar Sharma, a resident of Harmilap Nagar

Protesters said as long as senior railways officials do not come to the site and resolve the long-pending issue, their protest would continue indefinitely on the road.

Rana said the protest was carried out against the UT Administration and railway officials after they promised that the construction of the underpass would begin in three months. “After our protest, the Ambala DRM met us at the railway station today and assured us that the construction work will begin in six months,” Rana said.

As the railway crossing falls in the Chandigarh area having a boundary with Baltana, the construction work of an underpass at the railway gate involves clearances from various departments, including railways, the UT Administration and the Punjab government, leading to the delay. Several interstate meeting have been held during the past six years in this regard but failed to bring any fruitful result.

“Office goers, schoolchildren and ambulances going to and fro Panchkula, Chandigarh and Baltana have to wait at the crossing for a long time in the morning and evening. There are close to 36 housing societies here, residents of which are directly hit,” said Raj Kumar Sharma, a resident of Harmilap Nagar.

The Mauli Jagran police, the Zirakpur police, the Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force personnel were present at the spot, said a cop on duty.