Pivkol Underpass Delay: Salempur-Bhatni Residents Fuming Over 3-Year Wait!
The local population near the Pivkol railway station is reaching a breaking point. For over three years, the construction of a critical railway underpass on the Salempur-Bhatni section has remained stagnant, leaving commuters to navigate daily hardships and heightened safety risks.
A Growing Safety and Commuting Crisis
The prolonged delay has transformed a necessary infrastructure project into a source of constant anxiety for residents. Without the underpass, daily travel has become a struggle, with many fearing that the lack of a safe crossing could lead to serious accidents in the area.
Mixed Signals: Speed Trials vs. Stalled Projects
While some parts of the North Eastern Railway's Varanasi Division are moving forward, other vital local infrastructure projects seem stuck in time. A look at the recent progress reveals a stark contrast:
- Recent Success: On March 25, 2026, a speed trial was successfully conducted on the newly electrified and doubled 14.53 km stretch between Pivkol and Lar Road.
- The Reality on the Ground: Despite high-speed progress on the tracks, essential local crossings remain a nightmare for pedestrians and motorists.
The RTI Bombshell: Legal Hurdles in Deoria
An RTI inquiry filed on June 11, 2026, has shed light on a wider pattern of delays. It revealed that several underpass projects across the Deoria district, such as the Kasaya Dhala site, are currently paralyzed. Even though budgets have been approved and tenders have been finalized, administrative and legal complications are preventing any real progress on the ground.
Salempur's Struggle for Connectivity
The situation in Salempur has added even more pressure to the local community. Following the closure of the Hospital Gate railway crossing on March 25, 2026, access to essential services has become significantly more difficult.
"We urgently need an underpass or a foot-over bridge at the Hospital Gate to ease traffic congestion and ensure patients can reach the community health center without delay."
— Shriram Yadav, President of Nagar Panchayat Salempur
While the Salempur Junction is currently seeing a massive transformation under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme—with a dedicated budget of ₹15.12 crore—local residents maintain that the completion of essential underpass projects is much more critical for their everyday safety and transit needs.