Following a meeting between the district administration and the Indian Air Force (IAF) officials, the unfinished work at the Begum Bazar rail over bridge (ROB) is likely to be completed soon.
Sources inform that the Ministry of Defence has given its no objection certificate regarding the work at the ROB with certain conditions. A detailed action plan will be prepared after conducting the survey following which the construction authorities can move ahead with the work of completing the ROB which is lying unfinished since 2018.
Begum Bazar ROB was proposed before Kumbh 2019 to connect Kaushambi and Prayagraj through GT Road (ahead of Bamrauli). The officers of Setu Nigam started the construction of ROB but in 2018, when the ROB was 90 per cent ready, the Air Force stopped the work citing the safety of the IAF airstrip.
Later, the minister, MLA and district administration held several rounds of talks with the government to solve the problem so that the ROB gets completed and becomes operational.
Some houses near Begum Bazar ROB are becoming a roadblock. Due to this there will be a brainstorm on how the airstrip can be extended so that the aircraft can take-off smoothly. A strategy will be prepared on whether view cutters should be installed or whether land should be acquired. To extend the runway, 300 square yards of land has to be acquired. In the survey the actual requirement will be measured. With this, the work of ROB may start.