Amritsar has witnessed growing concern over an alleged unauthorized construction on valuable railway land near Rigo Bridge. According to Dr. Ram Chawla, land worth crores of rupees, owned by Indian Railways, has reportedly been leased at a throwaway price to a private company, which is now constructing a large commercial building on the site.
Dr. Chawla stated that the land is government property under the jurisdiction of Indian Railways and alleged that the lease was granted due to the involvement of senior internal officials. He described the matter as extremely serious and claimed that the public is being misled by displaying a board stating “Railway Construction in Progress” at the site.
Sources suggest that ongoing construction activity has also slowed down the work on Rigo Bridge, causing heavy traffic congestion and inconvenience to city residents on a daily basis. Commuters and local traders have reportedly been facing long traffic jams and increased travel delays.
Raising further questions, Dr. Chawla pointed out that Indian Railways is fully capable of utilizing its land for passenger facilities such as rest houses and infrastructure development, instead of leasing prime land to private entities. He emphasized that identifying the officials and departments involved in this alleged misuse of public property is essential.
To ensure accountability, Dr. Chawla announced that formal complaints will be submitted to the Union Railway Minister, the Minister of State for Railways, the sitting Member of Parliament from Amritsar, and senior political leaders. He urged the central government to intervene, conduct a thorough investigation, and take strict action against those found responsible.
