Ludhiana: A week-long closure of the railway level crossing near Midha Chowk is set to disrupt daily travel for commuters from Jawahar Nagar Camp, Model Town Extension and adjoining areas, forcing many to take a 1-1.5km longer route and raising the prospect of heavier traffic on the Shastri Nagar railway crossing and bus stand flyover.Northern Railway has temporarily closed the level crossing on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur railway section from Nov 10 till 8pm on Nov 16 to carry out deep screening and other track maintenance work.The crossing is an important link for commuters travelling from Jawahar Nagar Camp and Model Town Extension towards the bus stand and nearby areas. With the route blocked, motorists and two-wheeler riders will have to use either the Shastri Nagar railway crossing or the bus stand flyover.For regular users of the crossing, the diversion translates into an additional journey of around 1 to 1.5km. Besides increasing travel time, the diversion is expected to push more vehicles onto the alternative routes, particularly during morning and evening peak hours.The traffic pressure could become more pronounced from Thursday with school buses returning to the roads. The bus stand flyover already caters to regular traffic heading towards one of the city’s busiest transit points, and vehicles diverted because of the railway crossing closure will add to the load.Commuters using the stretch regularly will have to factor in the longer route while travelling to workplaces, schools, markets and the bus stand until the crossing reopens.A notice put up by railway authorities at the crossing informs residents about the temporary closure and maintenance schedule. The crossing is scheduled to reopen after completion of the work on Nov 16.At the site, portions of the railway track have been dug up, with construction material and loose earth lying along the sides as maintenance work continues.The deep screening exercise is part of track maintenance undertaken to ensure safety and proper upkeep of railway infrastructure. For residents and commuters, however, the immediate concern is negotiating the alternative routes for nearly a week and the possibility of longer travel time during rush hours.
