High court seeks response on plea against Dhuri railway overbridge project

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Punjab government and the central government to respond to a petition challenging the construction of a railway overbridge (ROB) in Dhuri. The case has been filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by a local resident who has raised concerns about the project’s impact and cost.

The court has issued notices to both governments and fixed April 22 as the next date of hearing. This means the authorities will now have to explain their position and justify the project before the court.

The case is related to a proposed railway overbridge in Dhuri, which is estimated to cost around ₹54.76 crore. The project was recently approved by the Ministry of Railways.

Concerns over cost and environment

The petition has raised several important concerns about the project. One of the main issues is the high cost of the overbridge compared to an earlier plan.

According to the petition, a railway underbridge (RUB) had been proposed earlier at the same location. This option was estimated to cost only ₹10.38 crore, which is much lower than the cost of the current overbridge project.

The petitioner has argued that spending such a large amount of money on the overbridge may not be justified, especially when a cheaper alternative was available.

Another major concern is the environmental impact. The petition claims that more than 250 fully grown trees may have to be cut down for the construction of the overbridge. This has raised worries among residents and environmental supporters.

Trees play an important role in maintaining the environment, especially in urban and semi-urban areas. Cutting such a large number of trees could affect air quality and local climate.

The petition also points out that the overbridge will pass through a residential area and over the Sheron distributary, which may further complicate the situation.

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Political and planning issues

The Dhuri overbridge project has also been a subject of political debate over the past year. There were disagreements between Bhagwant Mann and Ravneet Singh Bittu regarding the funding and execution of the project.

Earlier, the chief minister had said that the state government would fully fund the project to solve traffic problems in the area. He had also promised that the construction would be completed within 18 months.

However, the Union minister later criticised this claim and said that the state government had not deposited the required funds with the railways. He described the announcement as more of a political move than a practical plan.

In January this year, the Ministry of Railways officially approved the construction of the overbridge. With this approval, the responsibility for the project shifted to the central government.

The petitioner has also argued that the overbridge may not effectively solve the traffic problems in Dhuri. According to the plea, the earlier plan for an underbridge would have been more useful in reducing congestion.

Traffic management is an important issue in growing towns like Dhuri. Choosing the right type of infrastructure is necessary to ensure long-term benefits.

The High Court’s decision to seek responses from both governments shows that the matter is being taken seriously. The court will now examine whether the project is justified in terms of cost, environmental impact and public benefit.

In conclusion, the Dhuri railway overbridge project has raised questions about planning, spending and environmental protection. The upcoming hearing will be important in deciding the future of the project. It will also highlight how development projects can balance progress with sustainability and public interest.