Railways to Fast-Track Dhuri Overbridge Approval; Union Minister Ravneet Bittu Seeks Clarity on State Funding
Dhuri (Sangrur), June 29, 2025 – Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing, Ravneet Singh Bittu, announced that the Railways will soon issue a formal approval for the construction of a much-awaited railway overbridge at level crossing 62A in Dhuri. The project, a long-standing demand of local residents, is expected to bring major relief to daily commuters.
During his visit to Dhuri, Bittu expressed concern over the Punjab government’s recent announcement regarding funding for the project. He questioned the timing of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s tweet, which stated that ₹54.76 crore had been earmarked by the state government just ahead of Bittu’s visit.
“If this funding had actually been released, there would have been a formal allocation and press briefing long ago,” Bittu said. “The announcement appears to be aimed more at optics than outcome.”
The Union Minister urged the Punjab government to provide transparency about the budgetary provisions and confirm under which head this amount is being held. He emphasized that genuine infrastructure development requires clarity and coordination between the Centre and the state.
Highlighting the residents’ long-standing inconvenience, Bittu said the level crossing at 62A often remains closed for extended hours, disrupting traffic flow and effectively dividing the town.
“This bottleneck impacts thousands of commuters each day. We cannot let this issue linger any further,” he added.
Bittu credited the renewed momentum to his recent engagement with local communities and promised that the Ministry of Railways would prioritize the project’s approval and execution.
Responding to queries on the role of the state government, Bittu remarked that while Dhuri is represented by the Chief Minister himself, local development remains a challenge.
“Public infrastructure like the bus stand and local hospital are in urgent need of attention. Yet, the Chief Minister has not held a single public interaction in his own constituency since assuming office,” Bittu noted.