The proposed Railway Over Bridge (ROB) at the Garha railway crossing in Jalandhar has faced opposition from local traders and shopkeepers, who took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the project and the protesters marched from the railway crossing towards the bus stand and also stopped soil testing work being carried out at the site.
The traders said their objection is primarily linked to the possible impact of the proposed ROB on access to the market and nearby shops, and they claimed that if the project is constructed according to the present plan, the main access route to the shops could be affected, potentially reducing customer movement in the area.
The protesters said the issue concerns the livelihood of around 1,000 shopkeepers operating in and around Garha Road.
Manmohan Singh, one of the protesters, said the agitation was being carried out for the entire Garha Road area, he said traders had not been consulted adequately before the proposed project was planned and argued that the existing railway crossing does not require an ROB in its present form.
Singh also questioned the need for the project by pointing to the frequency of trains passing through the crossing. He said the traders want the current order for construction to be cancelled and have appealed to political parties to support their demand.
The Garha Road Market Welfare Association has also decided to hold a daily protest between 3 pm and 5 pm to highlight the traders' concerns. Manish Nagpal from Impel, who was also present among those raising concerns over the project, said, “this is going to have a bad impact on business,” referring to the possible impact of the proposed construction.
The traders have maintained that they are not against development or improved connectivity, and their demand is that the authorities examine the effect of the current design on businesses and consider alternatives before construction moves ahead.
Among the suggestions put forward by the traders is the possibility of constructing the ROB near the bus stand instead of the proposed location at Garha, and they have also suggested that the authorities examine the possibility of an ROB near the PIMS area.
The traders believe an alternative alignment could address railway-crossing-related traffic problems while reducing disruption to the existing market along with this they have demanded a fresh technical assessment covering road width, traffic volume, movement of heavy vehicles, access to shops and residential areas, and possible alternative routes.
BJP leader Sarabjit Makkar reached the protest site and interacted with the shopkeepers after work was stopped, and the traders explained their concerns regarding the proposed ROB and its possible effect on the market.
Deputy Mayor Malkeet Singh also visited the area and met the protesting traders and residents and the protesters reiterated their demand that their concerns be considered before the project moves forward.
The protests at Garha come amid wider opposition to railway-crossing projects in Jalandhar. The proposed ROB at Gurunanakpura has also faced resistance, with work there reportedly affected for nearly 60 days.
The foundation stones for the Garha and Gurunanakpura projects were laid in June.
The projects were proposed as infrastructure measures aimed at improving connectivity and reducing delays caused by railway crossings.
The estimated cost of the two proposed ROB projects is nearly ₹113 crore. The Gurunanakpura ROB has an estimated cost of ₹49 crore, while the Garha ROB is estimated at ₹63.98 crore.
Supporters of the projects have pointed to the potential benefits of removing railway-gate stoppages. And a permanent road connection over the railway line could reduce waiting time for commuters and provide uninterrupted movement for vehicles.
The projects could also have implications for emergency services, including ambulances, fire tenders and police vehicles, traffic and road-safety stakeholders have highlighted that vehicles waiting at railway crossings can also consume fuel while engines remain running.
Vinod Aggarwal, a member of the State-Level Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Committee, has highlighted concerns related to repeated railway-gate closures, including delays, fuel consumption and air pollution and he also pointed to the importance of uninterrupted movement for ambulances travelling towards Civil Hospital and PIMS, as well as school buses and daily commuters.
The current dispute has brought the issue of infrastructure development and the impact on existing businesses into focus, while authorities have proposed the ROBs to improve traffic movement and eliminate delays at railway crossings, Garha traders are asking for the present plan to be reviewed.
The shopkeepers have warned that they will intensify their agitation if construction is started without addressing their concerns, but for now, the traders are seeking a fresh technical survey and consideration of alternative alignments, including locations near the bus stand and PIMS and they want the administration and Railway Department to assess the traffic and business impact before taking the project forward.
