3 days Ago By Shariq Majeed
Ludhiana: The construction of four new bridges on the Sidhwan Canal along the Ladowal Bypass Road near South City is expected to alleviate traffic congestion in the area. However, completion of the project has been delayed, with three of the bridges now anticipated to be ready by March 2024, according to officials involved in the project. Project Details The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is constructing the bridges at two locations approximately 300 meters apart—near the Hydel Project and F2 Raceway.
Each bridge will span about 34-36 meters in length and have an 11-meter width, including 1.5-meter-wide footpaths on both sides. According to a private agency overseeing the construction, the abutment caps for three of the bridges at 1.
7 km, 3.3 km, and 3.7 km markers are completed.
Work on their superstructures, which does not require water flow in the canal to cease, is underway. The fourth bridge, at the 2.45 km marker, will need another canal closure to complete its abutment cap and DUTE cap.
Work was hampered when water was released into the canal earlier than expected on November 5 due to a religious festival, cutting short the closure period granted by the irrigation department. An official stated that had the closure lasted as planned until November 11, the base work for all bridges could have been completed. The irrigation department has indicated that the next canal closure may occur in January for approximately 21 days, allowing pending work to proceed.
Stakeholders’ Perspective Sanjeev Arora, Ludhiana's MP (Rajya Sabha), emphasized the significance of the project, noting its potential to address traffic issues in the area. "I am in touch with NHAI about the progress, and three of the four bridges should be ready in the next four months," he said. Local residents are eagerly awaiting the bridges' completion, highlighting the current inconveniences and environmental impact caused by traffic congestion.
Atley Chahal, a resident of the area, said the new bridges would save time, fuel, and reduce pressure on existing infrastructure. Another resident noted the contribution of traffic bottlenecks to air pollution, particularly at the South City bridge during peak hours. The bridges are expected to not only improve traffic flow but also offer a much-needed respite to residents and commuters in one of Ludhiana’s busiest regions.
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