BIG TASK AT LOWER COST: CONSTRUCTION OF TWO BRIDGES WILL NOW BE COMPLETED WITH SAVINGS OF RS.24-CR: HARBHAJAN SINGH ETO
Chandigarh: April 29:
Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO, today inspected the construction of the four-lane Railway Over Bridge (RoB) on the A-25 railway line (Kakka Kandiala railway line) in Tarn Taran and the bridge being built on the route from Sultanwind village in Sri Amritsar Sahib to Tarn Taran Sahib. These two bridges will facilitate smooth traffic flow between Sri Amritsar Sahib and Tarn Taran, freeing residents from traffic congestion issues.
The Cabinet Minister directed the companies involved in both construction projects to ensure completion by December 2025 under all circumstances.
He inspected the ongoing construction at the A-25 Kakka Kandiala railway line in Tarn Taran. He was accompanied by MLA Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal during the inspection.
The Cabinet Minister informed that 31 percent of the overbridge construction work has been completed. He said that while the bridge was initially scheduled for completion by June 2026, prioritizing public convenience will allow completion approximately six months earlier, by December 2025, when it will be dedicated to the public. The four-lane ROB was estimated to cost approximately Rs.82.88 crore but will be completed for around Rs.70 crore, saving the government approximately Rs.13 crore.
He said that traffic congestion in the historic city of Tarn Taran has been steadily increasing and thousands of devotees visiting Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran and Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar face significant travel difficulties due to traffic problems. The four-lane ROB will provide substantial relief to commuters.
Notably, PWD Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO laid the foundation stone for the four-lane overbridge on the A-25 railway line (Kakka Kandiala railway line) in September 2024 to address the growing traffic issues in Tarn Taran city.
Later, the Cabinet Minister also inspected the construction of the bridge being built by the Punjab Government from Sultanwind village’s wire bridge in Sri Amritsar Sahib toward Tarn Taran Sahib to eliminate long traffic jams. Construction of this bridge was initiated in October 2024 with a completion deadline of June 2026. After reviewing the progress, he announced that this bridge construction would also be completed by December 2025 to accommodate local residents and travelers. MLA Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar was also present on this occasion.
The Cabinet Minister said that on Dr. Nijjar’s recommendation, the state government had approved Rs.34.20 crore for this bridge, but the department will complete it for around Rs.22.68 crore, resulting in government savings of Rs.11.52 crore. This 725-meter-long and 14-meter-wide bridge will have 5.5-meter-wide service lanes constructed on both sides and drains for water drainage and rainwater harvesting systems will be installed on both sides of the flyover, he added.
The Cabinet Minister said that the completion of this bridge will ease travel for devotees visiting Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar, Tarn Taran Sahib, Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheedan, Tahla Sahib and Baba Buddha Ji religious sites, making traffic jams a thing of the past. He said that residents of colonies along the Amritsar bypass and the historic Sultanwind will also experience significant relief from this bridge construction.
