Work on Dhuri-Malerkotla missing link nears completion but official opening awaits Ludhiana West byelection results.
Ludhiana: Almost 12 years after it was first proposed, the much-anticipated Rail Over Bridge (ROB) on Dhandhran Road near the Dhuri-Malerkotla line is nearing completion — but residents will have to wait until after the by-election results are announced for official access.
Two reasons have been cited for the delay in opening: the bridge must be inaugurated by the Punjab chief minister, and final construction and safety work remains unfinished. Despite this, local commuters have already begun bypassing barricades and driving on the yet-to-be-opened ROB, leading to safety concerns. The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), which constructed the approach roads on both sides of the bridge, has warned that the site is still under development and is not yet safe for use.
Workers are currently completing final touches, including painting the retaining walls, installing road markings, and placing reflective cat's-eye indicators. Several sharp curves on the 200-foot connecting stretch also pose accident risks, especially with high-speed vehicles, prompting authorities to delay the official opening until proper safety measures are in place.
The project was originally conceived in 2012 under the Akali-BJP government to ease traffic congestion by linking the 200-foot road to Gill Road near Dhandhran village. However, bureaucratic delays and lack of coordination between state and central governments stalled construction for years. It was only after a change in government that the project resumed in earnest.
Now in its final stage, the Dhuri-Malerkotla missing link awaits only finishing touches and a formal ribbon-cutting — a symbolic gesture holding up a decade-long infrastructure wait.
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