Work on Lakkar bridge to begin soon: Mayor

Although Railway Minister Lalu Prasad was to address the meeting,it finally took place with chairman C K Jinnah,the Mayor said.

“Besides Lakkar Bridge,four more RoBs at Pakhowal Road,Model Town and Model Gram,have been planned for Ludhiana. The Railways will be making a budget within 10 days in this regard and will send it to us,” said the mayor.

The Lakkar Bridge was made in 1994 but the project was formally inaugurated in 2002 at a cost of

Rs 13 crore.

According to fresh estimates,the project will cost Rs 40 crore. Moreover,

Rs 11 crore has already been spent on the incomplete project.

Besides,the MC has already deposited Rs 6 crore with the Railways for the project.

“We have requested the Railways to not charge us extra or at least give us some concession. The Railway officials have said that they will be making the estimates of the escalated cost within 10 days and thereafter sending a demand notice to us. The work will start shortly after that.”

Although the MC had

deposited Rs 6 crore with the Railways,but due to the lack of coordination between the civic body and

rail officials,a meeting was never organised to discuss the project,leading to

the delay. The project has been lying closed for over three years even though it was scheduled to complete in a year.