Raj Sadosh
ON June 4, 2015, railway engineers asked Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials to shift the main sewerage line at the earliest to facilitate the construction of an underpass on Abohar-Sriganganagar Road. Also, a road was to be constructed near the goods yard to divert heavy vehicle traffic to the city bypass. A sum of Rs 5.58 crore was also allocated for the work at the rail crossing where at least 26 trains pass through it.
Cut to 2021, the underpass remains on paper. People blame sitting BJP MLA Arun Narang and SAD MP Sukhbir Singh Badal for not taking up the matter with the Centre.
The Abohar-Fazilka rail link was inaugurated on July 16, 2012, with limited run of trains till afternoon only. Post lockdowns, passenger train services were made normal in other segments but the Abohar-Fazilka rail link, where only Ferozepur-Hanumangarh express train passes through. People rue that elected representatives haven’t done anything for the resumption of normal operations.
The present government claims to have fulfilled the promise to open a government college, besides providing Rs 250 crore for urban and rural development each. However, Abha Square project promises to bring a sea change to the sub-divisional town. Abohar has shed the tag of one of the dirtiest cities in the latest Swachh Survekshan by securing 105th rank. Farmers say reconstruction of six minors (sub-canals) had by and large redressed their grievances.
Abohar: 5 years on, railway underpass on paper
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