Punjab Newsline | Jalandhar
Traders in Guru Nanak Pura will keep their shops closed on Monday to protest the proposed Railway Overbridge (ROB) at the Guru Nanak Pura railway crossing, demanding that authorities construct an underpass instead.
Local shopkeepers have also submitted a memorandum to Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, urging him to reconsider the project and approve an underpass in place of the overbridge.
Members of the Guru Nanak Pura Market Committee and Guru Nanak Pura Association said the proposed ROB would adversely affect more than 400 shopkeepers and impact the daily lives of around 4,000 to 4,500 local residents.
According to the traders, the planned nine-foot-wide service lanes on both sides of the bridge would significantly reduce customer access to the market, severely affecting businesses and putting the livelihoods of many shopkeepers at risk. They also expressed concern that the numerous connecting lanes on both sides of the bridge would become difficult to access, disrupting local movement.
The associations further warned that emergency vehicles, including ambulances, school buses and fire brigade vehicles, could face difficulties reaching the inner streets once the overbridge is constructed, creating serious challenges during emergencies.
They argued that the area is a densely populated residential and commercial locality rather than a national highway, making an underpass a more practical, safer and public-friendly solution. According to the traders, an underpass would ensure uninterrupted market activity, smooth local traffic and easy daily movement for residents.
The protest follows an earlier demonstration last week, when shopkeepers shut the market for three hours to oppose the proposed ROB project.
