Baltana, Feb 14: The construction of the Raipur Kalan-Harmilap Nagar road underbridge (RUB) in Baltana faces further delays as the Chandigarh Administration has yet to deposit its Rs 6.40 crore share with the Railways. Although Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria previously approved the 50 percent cost-sharing amount, the funds remain stuck due to incomplete land acquisition.
Northern Railway officials noted that while e-bids for the project were opened on Friday using a “normal pushing” technique to maintain train operations, physical work cannot commence without the capital transfer. “The acquisition of 5 kanal and 19 marla of land must be finalized before the funds can be moved to the Railway authorities,” a senior official mentioned. Once the work is finally allotted, the project is expected to take 12 months to complete.
The delay has sparked local protests, with Joint Action Committee chairman Partap Singh Rana threatening an indefinite fast over the administrative stalemate. The crossing is a vital link for residents of Raipur Kalan, Mauli Jagran, Baltana, and Zirakpur, who frequently face significant traffic congestion during peak hours.
Initially conceived seven years ago, the project’s estimated cost has surged from Rs 7.99 crore to Rs 12.81 crore due to the four-year lag in execution. The UT Administration issued a notification for the 0.74-acre land acquisition in Raipur Kalan last July, but the lack of possession continues to block the collaborative effort between the Railways and the Chandigarh administration.
