Indian Railways Accelerates Construction of Road Over Bridges
The Indian Railways is ramping up efforts to enhance safety and mobility through the ongoing construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs). This vital infrastructure project, prioritized based on its impact on railway safety and road user mobility, has seen a significant increase in construction from 4,148 ROBs and RUBs built between 2004 and 2014 to an impressive 13,653 anticipated by October 2025.
New ROB Project Sanctioned
Recently, the construction of a new ROB has been sanctioned to replace Level Crossing No. 43/Spl/E located in the Azimganj-New Farakka section of the Malda Division. Planning stages are already underway, with the preparation of the General Arrangement Drawing (GAD) and detailed estimates being developed.
Delays in West Bengal and Telangana
Despite the ambitious plans, progress has faced hurdles. In West Bengal, out of 302 sanctioned ROB/RUB projects, 99 are currently stalled. The delays stem from various issues linked to the state government, including finalizing alignment, obtaining necessary approvals, and land acquisition. Specifically, 41 projects are pending alignment finalization, while 14 await approval on General Arrangement Drawings.
Similarly, in Telangana, 17 of the 63 sanctioned ROB projects are delayed, primarily due to land acquisition challenges and pending alignment finalization.
Investments and Future Plans
As of November 1, 2025, the Indian Railways has sanctioned a total of 4,689 ROBs and RUBs at a cost of ₹1.11 lakh crore. This includes 316 ROB/RUB projects in Andhra Pradesh, which carry an estimated cost of ₹11,686 crore and are at various stages of execution.
For the period between 2023 and 2025, Uttar Pradesh has successfully completed 252 ROB/RUB works, demonstrating the ongoing commitment to improve railway infrastructure across the nation. Maharashtra also sees progress, with 275 sanctioned projects costing ₹5,506 crore in various planning and execution stages.
Key Factors Affecting Project Completion
Completion timelines for ROB and RUB projects are influenced by multiple factors. These include the state government’s cooperation in allowing closures of level crossings, alignment approvals, land acquisition, and handling any law and order issues that may arise at work sites. Other elements such as statutory clearances and seasonal working conditions also play crucial roles in determining project timelines.
Measures to Expedite Progress
To address the delays, the Railways have implemented various measures aimed at accelerating the progress of ROB and RUB projects. This includes conducting joint surveys with state authorities before finalizing GADs to ensure smooth execution. Regular meetings between railway officials and state government representatives are held to swiftly resolve issues. Additionally, standardization of superstructure designs has been introduced to minimize design approval delays.
These efforts underscore the Indian Railways’ commitment to enhancing infrastructure and safety, ensuring both rail and road users benefit from efficient transportation solutions.
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