The Railway officials had asked MC to deposit Rs 22 crore in two equal instalments so as to get the work done, but MC coffers are empty at the moment. While the amount has been negotiated to Rs 19 crore, the project is still gathering dust.

The Lakkar Bridge can wait, already it is years behind the schedule, so what if it gets delayed a little more, said an MC official. The municipal corporation has also failed to achieve the income targets in the present financial year. Against the target of Rs 452 crore, it has earned only Rs 287 crore.

Information revealed that MC has to pay the salaries of its staff and apart from repaying HUDCO loan. Not only this, even hundreds of other projects which were inaugurated may also get delayed due to lack of funds.

Mayor and councillors of the city were on inauguration spree along with the chief minister and deputy chief minister in the past few months but an easy flow of money may not come easy.

MC Commissioner G S Ghuman said, "We are short of funds, but will pay the first instalment to railways to get the work rolling."

Meanwhile, Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura organised a meeting with local railway officials today. The authorities formally approved the site plan of the Lakkar Bridge. Mayor said the first instalment to the railways will be released soon.

It needs to be mentioned that due to the inordinate delay, the MC has increased the cost of the bridge from Rs 12 crore to whopping Rs 40 crore. Apart from the Lakkar Bridge, even Shastri Nagar and Pakhowal Road overbridges costing Rs 12 crore each seem to be a distant dream.

Auction on Mar 25