- By Akansha Pandey
- Fri, 10 Oct 2025 03:47 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A significant dispute has arisen over an under-construction bridge on the Ghaggar River near Panihari village. Villagers from the nearby Alikan village allege that the bridge, which was officially sanctioned to connect the Panihari-Alikan road, has been diverted to link with the Ranga-Rodi road instead.
This change in alignment has reportedly cut off direct connectivity for about 70 families in Alikan, forcing them to travel an additional 10 kilometers to access the bridge.
Background And Official Records
The bridge was announced in 2015 under the Chief Minister's declarations, and an administrative approval for Rs 13.72 crore was granted in 2020. However, when construction began, villagers noticed the deviation from the announced plan.
In response, they filed an RTI query with the Public Works Department (PWD) on July 17, 2025. The documents provided by the department reportedly confirm the bridge's location on the "Panihari-Alikan Road," with no mention of the Ranga-Rodi road.
Villagers' Allegations
Villagers, including Devendra Sandhu, Baldev Singh Panch, and Kuldeep Singh, claim the department is prioritising the Ranga-Rodi road despite the original plan benefiting Alikan. They also allege that the PWD demolished a previously existing bridge, which they had self-funded in 2015 at a cost of approximately Rs 90 lakh.
"The bridge used to pass near our homes, and now we have to travel several kilometers to reach it," the villagers stated, adding that if the construction had followed the original plan, their connectivity would have been maintained without the need for additional land acquisition.
The Department's Stance
PWD Executive Engineer Kamal Deep Singh Rana has defended the decision, stating that the Ranga-Rodi road is a departmentally approved route. He claimed that connecting the bridge to the Alikan panchayat road would have created an "accident-prone zone" due to technical issues. He added that the department has prepared a separate proposal to acquire land to provide connectivity to Alikan.
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Complaint Filed, Investigation Demanded
The aggrieved villagers have submitted a formal complaint to District Commissioner Shantanu Sharma, demanding a thorough investigation into the matter. They argue that if the department had technical concerns, it should have discussed them with the villagers earlier to find a viable solution.