Panchkula: Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma has written to Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw seeking early approval and expedited construction of a proposed 10ft wide railway underpass in Shiv Nagar, Kalka, a long-pending demand of local residents.The matter was earlier raised by Kalka MLA Shakti Rani Sharma, who urged the MP to take up the issue with the railway minister. Sharma has also sought an appointment with Vaishnaw to discuss the project, which he described as critical for public safety rather than merely a matter of commuter convenience.Shiv Nagar’s direct road connectivity is blocked by a railway line, leaving residents dependent on a narrow paved access road measuring around 14 feet in width and 95 feet in length. As a result, many residents are forced to cross railway tracks, posing significant safety risks.Highlighting the urgency of the project, Sharma noted that emergency situations often become particularly challenging, with ambulances, doctors and other emergency services facing difficulties in reaching the colony on time. He also referred to tragic incidents linked to the lack of safe access, underscoring the need for the underpass.The MP said key procedural formalities had already been completed at the railway level and pointed out that Northern Railway had issued a formal communication regarding the allocation of Rs 3.70 crore for the project.MLA Shakti Rani Sharma said the demand for the underpass in Shiv Nagar (Khila Colony) had remained pending for years and deserved serious consideration to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.
