Ludhiana: Citing grave structural and fire safety risks, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has rejected a proposal by the municipal corporation (MC) to turn vacant land beneath the city’s flyovers into a commercial hub.The NHAI has not only blocked the development of 379 new shops under the Gill Chowk bridge but also demanded the demolition of existing markets beneath three other major flyovers. The standoff marks a significant escalation in the battle over Ludhiana’s aging infrastructure, with the NHAI warning that illegal commercial use is preventing critical safety audits of bridges that are now more than 30 years old.Safety First, Commerce LastIn a stinging response to the MC’s Dec 21, 2025, request for lease allotments, the NHAI clarified that national highway designs do not permit permanent structures under bridges. In its opinion, commercial utilisation poses several “high-stakes” risks such as emergency obstruction (shops hinder rapid response and drainage flow), structural blind spots (permanent stalls block access to foundations, preventing engineers from monitoring “structural distress”), and fire hazards (the presence of commercial goods beneath transit pillars creates significant public safety concerns).The ‘Illegal’ LegacyWhile the MC sought to expand its shop portfolio, the NHAI revealed that existing shops under the Dholewal, Cheema Chowk, and Preet Palace bridges were never authorised. The federal agency confirmed that it had neither granted permission nor signed lease agreements for these occupants, effectively labelling the current markets as rampant encroachment.The timing of the dispute is critical. The NHAI recently engaged the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) to conduct a safety audit of five major flyovers transferred from the MC. However, the audit has been impossible to complete physically. “The inspection and safety audit could not be carried out… due to the presence of shops and huge encroachment which restricted access to critical structural components,” the NHAI stated.MC Tight-LippedDespite formal warnings issued as early as July 2025 regarding the deteriorating state of these 30-year-old structures, the NHAI alleges the MC has failed to act against the vendors. Following the NHAI’s latest demand to clear the sites for “unobstructed structural inspection”, Municipal corporation’s officials have refused to comment on the potential displacement of hundreds of local shopkeepers. MSID:: 129574946 413 |
