In a significant development aimed at tackling chronic traffic issues, the industrial city of Ludhiana is set to receive two new underpasses on a key national highway. The announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Bittu, following persistent demands from local representatives.
Project Details and Infrastructure Boost
The new infrastructure will be constructed on National Highway 44, which is the vital corridor connecting Ludhiana with Jalandhar. The estimated cost for this major civic project is pegged at Rs 23 crore. During a live address on social media, Minister Bittu expressed his commitment to the city's development, stating, "Though I lost from Ludhiana, the city has given me immense love and respect. I always think about its welfare."
Strategic Locations for Smoother Flow
The plan involves constructing two 15-meter underpasses near Kailash Nagar, designed to separately handle inbound and outbound traffic. This is expected to significantly decongest the area and enhance road safety for commuters. Additionally, another underpass will be built near Jassian Road to further alleviate traffic snarls in that zone.
In a complementary upgrade, the service lanes running alongside the highway have already been widened from their previous width of 7 meters to a more spacious 11 meters. This expansion is intended to facilitate smoother vehicular movement and reduce bottlenecks.
Political Push and Public Reaction
The formal announcement came just a day after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Madan Lal Bagga vocally pressed for the demand near Jassian Road. Following the news, MLA Bagga celebrated the move by distributing sweets at Jassian Chowk. He highlighted that he, along with MLA Daljit Singh Grewal, had previously met with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, to advocate for this very project.
Minister Bittu emphasized that the core objective of these projects is to provide safe connectivity to Kailash Nagar and Jassian Road, neighborhoods that routinely experience heavy traffic volumes. He termed the entire development as "great news for Ludhiana residents," signaling a positive step towards solving the city's persistent traffic woes.
