A political credit war has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress over the Rs 48.95-crore Guru Nanak Pura railway overbridge (ROB) in Jalandhar. Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Bittu laid the foundation stone for the project on Wednesday, sparking competing claims of ownership.
Union Minister Attributes Project to BJP
During the foundation-laying ceremony, Bittu asserted that the ROB was a BJP project delivered under the Narendra Modi government. He stated that the bridge is part of a broader plan to construct railway bridges worth Rs 1,700 crore across Punjab, funded entirely by the railways to ease traffic congestion for local residents. Bittu also criticised the previous Congress government and the current Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration for neglecting the area's traffic woes despite long-standing problems.
Bittu highlighted that nearly 140 trains cross the Guru Nanak Pura railway crossing daily, causing extended closures. He noted that while a new bridge is typically required when traffic exceeds 1 lakh vehicles, the vehicle count at this crossing has reached 5 lakh without adequate infrastructure development.
Congress Claims Project Was Its Brainchild
Congress leader Rajinder Beri, District (Urban) president and former MLA, countered Bittu's claims, stating that the Guru Nanak Pura ROB project was approved during the Congress regime in the 2018-19 Budget. Beri explained that the project could not be built due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and after the change of government in 2022, successive administrations forgot about it. He accused the BJP of laying the foundation stone just months before elections to claim credit. Beri added that during Congress rule, he had repeatedly raised the issue of constructing an ROB to address traffic congestion at the Guru Nanak Pura crossing.
BJP Retorts with Proposal Credit to Manoranjan Kalia
In response, Jalandhar BJP general secretary Ashok Sareen Hikki stated that Beri was reiterating old claims and misleading the public. Hikki asserted that the proposal for the ROB was sent by former minister and BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia. He claimed that although the Union Ministry of Railways approved the project, from 2017 to 2026, the Congress and AAP-led Municipal Corporation in Jalandhar, along with successive state governments, failed to release their share of funds. Hikki challenged Congress leaders to explain why the state government and the Municipal Corporation kept the project pending for eight years if the files were approved.
Two Key Railway Overbridge Projects
The Rs 48.95-crore ROB at Guru Nanak Pura will replace a level crossing on the Jalandhar City-Jalandhar Cantt section, situated on the busy Sahnewal-Amritsar route. It is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion and reduce waiting times caused by the closed crossing.
The second project for which Bittu laid the foundation stone is a two-lane ROB at Garha Road, located at level crossing No. S-4 on the Jalandhar City-Nakodar section. This project, costing Rs 63.98 crore, aims to improve connectivity to Jalandhar City, Jamsher Khas, Nakodar, and adjoining areas, enhancing commuter safety and reducing congestion.
Bittu's Remarks and Kalia's Health
Bittu expressed hope for full cooperation from the state government and stated that no obstruction would be allowed in the construction. He criticised the Congress and AAP for inaction, noting that despite rising traffic volumes, little was done. He announced that the railways would construct bridges worth Rs 1,700 crore and rail lines and crossings worth Rs 26,000 crore across Punjab, starting from Jalandhar Central constituency.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia, credited by the party for bringing the project, collapsed due to heat exhaustion at the Guru Nanak Pura event and was hospitalised. Bittu later visited Kalia to inquire about his health.
