Railway Board officials recently conducted a site inspection at the Jalalabad railway crossing located on Gangoh Road in Shamli. During this visit, Member of Parliament Ikra Hasan met with the officials to discuss the ongoing concerns of the local residents. The MP clearly stated that the public is in favor of an overbridge and will not accept the construction of an underpass at this busy location.
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Why is the underpass construction being opposed by local residents?
The local community in Jalalabad and surrounding villages has been protesting against the underpass for several months. The primary reasons for this opposition include:
- Waterlogging Issues: Residents fear that the underpass will fill with water during the rainy season, making it unusable for vehicles.
- Traffic Disruptions: Being a major road connecting to Gangoh, an underpass is seen as a bottleneck for heavy traffic.
- Previous Protests: In January 2026, villagers successfully stopped construction work, leading to a temporary suspension of the project.
- Political Support: Leaders from multiple parties, including the RLD and SP, have joined the residents in demanding a flyover instead of a tunnel.
What are the latest directions from the Railway Board and Ministry?
Following the inspection on April 14, 2026, railway officials including Executive Director Vivek Sood and Alok Kumar took note of the MP’s demands. MP Ikra Hasan mentioned that if there is no budget for an overbridge, the crossing should stay as it is rather than building an underpass that causes daily trouble. Earlier, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav had already instructed officials to halt the underpass work after a meeting with MP Chandan Chauhan. The railway department is now expected to review the feasibility of a flyover and submit a comprehensive report based on the recent site visit and public feedback.