Baltana seeks way through railway crossing

PANCHKULA: Fed up with frequent traffic jams, residents of Panchkula and Baltana have been demanding opening of the closed railway crossing near Sector 19.
Being a two-way passage, it also creates shortcut to Zirakpur, Ambala and Delhi. As a result, the stretch sees increased flow of traffic during the day. Huge rush is witnessed as commuters from Panchkula opt this road on their way to Zirakpur.Similarly, commuters from Baltana also take the same road, causing huge traffic jams. "It is very difficult to cross from this stretch as it is a narrow crossing and the traffic is too much during peak hours; it causes long traffic jams every day," said Anil Joshi, a Sector 19 resident.
The old railway crossing has been closed due to technical problems and a new crossing has come up around 20 metres from the old site.
Global Human Rights Organization president RK Verma said the residents have given a written demand to the central railway ministry so that both the railway crossings can be used at a time.
He added, both the crossings, old as well as new, are nearby and rejoin after some distance, if each of them can be used as one-way stretch it may decongest the stretch.
Citizen Welfare Association, Panchkula president SK Nayyar said, ?Panchkula-Baltana road sees a lot of traffic these days. It has almost become a GT Road now. The crossing should be opened to ease the flow of traffic.