islamabad - The Punjab government has approved Rs 350 million for the construction of overhead bridge at Sihala railway crossing where traffic remains clogged for hours daily due to trains’ movements.

The commuters of Kahuta-Kashmir road and residents of Sihala and adjoining areas would have a sigh of relief after the completion of the project which they have been demanding over the years. According to a Planning and Development Department official, as per instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif the department concern was already working on the project’s feasibility report. He said the bridge’s length would be 16000 feet, which would ease traffic mess at the Railways crossing, which remained clogged for hours during the trains’ up and down movement. Shakeel Abbas, a resident of the area, said, “The road accommodates huge traffic flow as public and commercial transport bound for Kashmir ply on it.” He appreciated the Punjab government’s initiative which would help mitigate public sufferings.

“The road is also in the use of heavy vehicles of Pakistan Atomic Energy Agency Commission and a large number of oil tankers also get filled at an oil depot located near railway crossing,” he added.

A truck driver Ahsan Irfan said,” He has to travel to Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir for goods transportation and five hours destination becomes 9-10 hours due to blockage at crossing point.

A shopkeeper in Sihala bazaar said due to single road, that is very busy and narrow too, many fatal accidents have occurred involving head-on collisions, taking many precious lives. He said people of the area are happy over this news and are appreciative of the government’s step.