Aggar Nagar road project to be re-inaugurated

The project,which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal eight years ago,will be re-inaugurated in the first week of August. Amrit Lal Aggarwal,member of the Ludhiana Aggarwal Co-operative House Building Society that owns and manages Aggar Nagar,said: “The project of building a subway between Block A and B of Aggar Nagar was inaugurated by Parkash Singh Badal,when the society had laid the proposal in front of the Municipal Corporation. But then their government went out of power and the project was stalled. Now,it has been taken up again. I am very happy about this.”

“In 2009,the society again requested Gabaria to start the project,but apparently,the soil profile of Aggar Nagar was too soft,which could not have borne heavy drilling,” said a source,on condition of anonymity.

“Rs 21 lakh was given by the CM to the society to initiate the project,but nothing happened,” he added.

Blocks A and B are on the opposite sides of the Ferozepur highway in Aggar nagar.

Telling how the construction of this underpass between the two blocks will be extremely helpful for pedestrians,a resident said: “The school,gurdwara,bank and Shiva temple are in A Block whereas the hospital,other two temples and community centre are in B Block. Since the highway is always jam-packed with vehicles,it becomes extremely unsafe for pedestrians to commute between the two Blocks.”

The other issue going on between the society and the MC regarding the project is the enormity and timeline.

Senior executive engineer Brij Pal,who is handling the project,said,“Around Rs 4 crore more will be invested in the project and it will take a year to complete,as some shops will also be constructed on the subway.”

Aggarwal,however,said: “The society had submitted the proposal for just the subway and not the shops. The area to be constructed is around 100 feet,and if the shops are constructed,it will create a lot of problems for residents. It will beat the whole purpose as the subway was meant for the convenience of the people. Only the subway can be constructed within four months.”

On being asked why there was such communication gap between the society and MC officials,he said,“I will get the details of the whole project from the SDO today itself and clarify all the points with them.”

The subway is to be constructed from the Shiva temple in A Block to Ragunath Temple in B Block.

Municipal Commissioner A K Sinha said,“Sukhbir Badal might come on August 4 to inaugurate some projects in the city.