Ludhiana, Feb. 27 -- The local business establishments near the Domoria bridge here have been struggling to stay afloat as the road connecting the old city to Civil Lines has now been closed for three months as the undercrossing is shut due to the bridge expansion and track-laying work. The railway bridge expansion is a part of the line doubling project between Ludhiana and Mullanpur. It was supposed to be completed by March 2, but now the railways has extended the deadline by 15 days.

Dr Yogesh Malhotra, who runs a homeopathy clinic some 100 metres towards the old city from the bridge, said, "My patients have fallen by 60 per cent in these last three months. While the old patients have remained with us, the new ones are gone."

"I teach...