South Eastern Railways to Construct Road Overbridges in Jamshedpur
The South Eastern Railways (SER) zone has announced a significant infrastructure upgrade for Jamshedpur, with plans to replace two critical level crossings on the city's outskirts with modern road overbridges (ROBs). This strategic move aims to alleviate persistent traffic congestion and enhance the efficiency of railway operations along this vital transportation corridor.
Project Details and Revised Funding
In a recent notification issued last week, SER officials confirmed that level crossing numbers 137 and 138, situated at Govindpur and Barigora on the Asanbani-Tatanagar railway section, will be transformed into ROBs. Notably, the railway authority has decided to shoulder the entire financial burden of these projects, marking a departure from earlier arrangements.
Originally, a proposal had been approved for a 50:50 cost-sharing program between the railways and the Jharkhand government. "However, given the critical operational challenges, the arrangement has now been revised," the official notification stated, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these infrastructure bottlenecks.
Addressing Operational and Safety Concerns
Both level crossings are positioned on the heavily trafficked Howrah-Mumbai railway route, which operates as a triple-line A category corridor with high train frequency. The combination of dense railway traffic and substantial road vehicle movement at these crossings has created significant operational difficulties for years.
"Barigora and Govindpur level crossings have caused operational difficulties to the railways for a long time," explained Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Mahato. "Traffic on the level crossing not only affects the speed of trains, but regular accidents on the twin level-crossing pose safety risk for motorists."
It was Mahato's proactive advocacy that prompted Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to direct SER authorities to prioritize the ROB construction work, recognizing the pressing need for improved safety and efficiency.
Additional Infrastructure Proposal
Beyond the two primary projects, SER has also proposed constructing another ROB at the Makhdumpur railway gate in Pursudih. "The matter is under consideration, as per the notification issued on February 13," Mahato confirmed, indicating potential further infrastructure enhancements in the region.
Next Steps and Implementation Timeline
A specialized team from the railway's engineering department is scheduled to conduct physical inspections at both sites in the coming weeks. These assessments will precede the preparation of detailed project reports and the subsequent tender awarding process for construction.
This comprehensive approach ensures thorough planning before commencement of actual construction work, with the ultimate goal of transforming these problematic intersections into smooth, accident-free transportation passages that benefit both railway operations and road users in the Jamshedpur area.
