After Dhuri, railway bridge politics reaches Doraha: AAP MLA Giaspura protests against ‘non-construction' of ROB; Bittu says Pb govt sitting on NOC
This came a day after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Union Minister of State (MoS) for Railways and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu got into a war of words regarding the upcoming ROB in Sangrur district's Dhuri.
Slamming Bittu for 'playing politics in Mann's constituency Dhuri, but failing to construct a ROB in his home district Ludhiana', Giaspura said the ROB at level crossing no. 164AB has not been constructed despite the issuance of a 'requisite no objection certificate (NOC)' by the ruling AAP government in Punjab.
Giaspura said: 'The AAP-led Punjab government has already issued an NOC to the Railways, regarding the project… If they won't construct the ROB for our local residents, then we won't also let trains cross here. We have even paid the state's project share, but nothing is being done. We are not asking Bittu for any favour, we are asking for our right.'
'First, construct the ROB in your home district, then go for Dhuri,' Giaspura said, while threatening to 'sit on 24×7 protests as well as block railway traffic if they don't begin the ROB work at the earliest.'
During their protest against the Centre and Railways over 'inordinate delay' in the Doraha-Sahnewal bridge project, Giaspura further said: 'Before playing politics in Dhuri, Bittu should take care of the inconvenience faced by the people in his home district Ludhiana. The project has been pending since 2012… The previous Congress and SAD-BJP governments did nothing to complete it. Doraha residents were happy that something could be done now as Bittu, a local, has become the Union MoS for Railways. However, even he failed to solve the issue. Bittu became a minister despite losing the Lok Sabha elections from Ludhiana, but he is yet to learn his lessons. Residents face inconvenience, with many accidents happening due to the missing bridge.'
Bittu trashes Giaspura's claims, says Punjab govt sitting on NOC 'despite multiple letters to Mann'
Reacting to this, Bittu told The Indian Express on Monday that he will 'write and personally handover a fresh letter to Mann, demanding clear and correct NOC for the Doraha ROB' as he denied Giaspura's claims.
Bittu said: 'I have sent at least four letters to the CM Mann to issue an NOC to the Railways, but we have not received it yet. Earlier, the Doraha ROB was being handled by a private company under the directions of the PWD Department, Punjab government. However, the company left the work midway after PWD terminated their contract in 2021. Now, the Punjab government is contesting an arbitration case against that company, while not being ready for issuing the NOC, despite repeated reminders. Earlier they had provided a conditional NOC, which wasn't according to Railway's parameters so they were asking to provide a clear NOC which hasn't come till date. This politics over the Doraha ROB is being played by the AAP because I had exposed their hollow claims in Dhuri on Sunday.'
Bittu also wrote on X: 'MLA Giaspura Sahib, stop misleading people. If you have the correct NOC given by the Punjab government for Doraha bridge, then where can I come to get the NOC from you.'
Bittu's spokesperson meanwhile said: 'The Punjab government has only approved a general arrangement drawing, that too just four days back, with a condition that the railways will obtain NoC before execution of the work.'
In a letter dated May 22 this year, Bittu wrote to Mann that there has been an 'inordinate delay' in issuing 'No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Public Works Department (PWD) of Punjab for the construction of a 4-Lane ROB at level crossing number 164 AB.'
'Severe inconvenience is being faced by the public over the past 10-15 years due to this busy level crossing… The ROB was originally planned to be constructed by Punjab PWB at their own cost (approximately Rs 70 crore) as per present cost. However, the contract was terminated by the PWD in 2021 and very less progress was made. The Ministry of Railways has stepped in to construct the ROB entirely at Railway's cost. PWD may be requested to solve the arbitration case independently.. and direct PWD for early issuance of a clear NOC,' wrote Bittu to Mann.
Giaspura meanwhile said that the AAP government 'has already given its financial share and the NOC on November 11, 2024.'
Bittu's spokesperson however said that the NOC earlier provided by the Punjab government was 'conditional one asking the Railways to bear the cost and claims associated with arbitration proceedings.'
'They were told to provide an unconditional and a clear NOC which they haven't till date even as a new work including both the railway span and approach roads were sanctioned by the Railway Board on 29.02.2024 itself,' he added. Another written reminder to Mann was sent on June 2 also, he said.
On Sunday, Mann had announced that the work on Dhuri RoB would begin soon. Reacting to this, Bittu had slammed Mann for 'taking fake credit' as the 'the Railways is in the process of granting an approval for the RoB adjoining Dhuri LC 62A railway crossing — without efforts from Mann or the ruling AAP government in the state'.
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