Bijnor Villagers Face Disappointment as NHAI Rejects Underpass Proposal
Villagers living along the Meerut–Pauri four-lane highway in Bijnor district saw their hopes crushed this week. The National Highways Authority of India formally rejected their proposal for an underpass near Hemraj Colony. This decision led authorities to forcefully end a seven-month-long protest. Road construction work resumed on Sunday evening under police protection.
Seven-Month Protest Stalls Highway Work
For nearly seven months, local residents had effectively stalled construction on a stretch of NH-34. They pitched tents directly on the highway to demand a crossing that would maintain local connectivity. The district administration had forwarded a formal proposal to NHAI headquarters in Delhi, but officials rejected it last week.
Following the rejection, SDM (Sadar) Ritu Rani and City Circle Officer Sangram Singh arrived at the site late Saturday. They brought a heavy police force that dismantled the protest camp completely. By Sunday, workers had completed major soil-filling work while police stood guard. This action ended the prolonged standoff between villagers and authorities.
Affected Communities Voice Their Struggles
The affected population includes Bengali Hindu families who migrated from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, to western Uttar Pradesh. Their migration occurred between the 1960s and 1970s, including during the 1971 war. Though settled in the region for over six decades, many still face land ownership issues.
In July 2025, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government began a process to grant legal land rights to displaced families in several districts, including Bijnor. This development offered some hope, but the underpass rejection represents a significant setback for daily life.
Farmers and Residents Face Severe Disruption
On Monday, agitators under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Sangh staged a fresh protest at the collectorate. They handed over a memorandum to District Magistrate Jasjit Kaur. Representatives from five villages—Hemraj Colony, Dharamnagari Colony, Ghasiwala, and Navalpur—explained their predicament.
They emphasized that the absence of an underpass has completely cut off farmers from their fields. Daily movement for over 10,000 residents has been severely disrupted. The memorandum was addressed directly to the Union Road Transport Minister.
Nirmal Vishwas, who participated actively in the agitation, shared specific details. "What was once a one-kilometer commute has turned into a seven-kilometer detour," he explained. Farmers now find themselves separated from fields located just across the highway, creating immense practical difficulties.
Political Efforts Yield No Results
Bijnor MP Chandan Chauhan had previously raised the issue with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Despite these political efforts, no successful resolution emerged. The rejection stands, and construction continues without the demanded infrastructure for local connectivity.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges for migrant communities in Uttar Pradesh. While land rights processes move forward, immediate infrastructure needs remain unmet, affecting thousands of residents along this crucial national highway.
