Title - Rly pensioners flay Metro project

Ludhiana: The Northern Railway Pensioners’ Welfare Association has criticised the state government for proposed Metro rail project and imposition of fresh taxes, which would put an unbearable burden on people.Addressing the monthly meeting of the body, chairman Sher Singh termed the Metro rail project as ill-conceived for a city like Ludhiana. The traffic situation has already attained unmanageable proportions in the city and pillars to be erected for elevated portion of Metro rail would further squeeze the space available for vehicular traffic on busy and congested roads.He said if at all the metro rail was to be run in the city, it ought to be a completely underground project, which would cause minimal or no displacement to the residents and business community, while also leaving the roads alone.Sher Singh came down heavily upon the government for hike in the rate of value added tax (VAT), increase in power tariff and imposition of property tax.He said the government had delayed these decisions due to the political compulsions, including municipal elections. “Had it not been so, the new tax proposals ought to have been brought in the budget and discussed in the Assembly before being given effect,” he added.