Jamshedpur: Residents and local representatives staged a protest on Sunday by burning tyres at the Barigora railway crossing, expressing their frustration over the lack of progress on the construction of road overbridges (ROBs) for Barigora and Govindpur. The projects were announced three years ago but have yet to see any ground-level work.
Background of the ROB Projects
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for the Govindpur and Barigora ROBs on February 23, 2024. Initially planned as a 50:50 joint venture with the state government, the railways later decided to fully fund the projects after the state reportedly showed no interest. Despite this, construction has not commenced.
Daily Disruptions and Public Grievances
The protest highlighted the severe daily disruptions caused by the railway crossing. Frequent gate closures lead to long queues, accidents, and gridlock, affecting over four lakh residents from areas including Rahargoda, Barigora, Jaduguda, Asanboni, Domjudi, Pursudih, and Gadra. Local resident and zila parishad member Paritosh Singh stated, “Over four lakh people living in these areas endure hardships due to the frequent closure of the railway gate at the crossing. Furthermore, regular accidents and traffic jams on either side compound the people’s woes.”
Gadra (Northwest) panchayat mukhiya Sunita Nag added, “The gate remains closed for seven to eight hours on a daily basis, causing acute travel problems for commuters, particularly students, the working class, and patients.”
Official Statements and Project Details
Mithun Chakraborty, representative of Jugsalai MLA Mangal Kalindi, said, “The ROBs are proposed on the Tatanagar-Asanboni stretch of the Howrah-Mumbai railway tracks, where heavy train movement repeatedly traps residents at the crossings.” The railway board issued a notification on February 15, 2026, and the Chakradharpur division floated a ₹193 crore tender on April 22, 2026, covering Govindpur, Barigora, and Kherbani.
The railways plan to construct T-shaped ROBs to minimize displacement. A divisional commercial official explained, “There was a technical glitch pertaining to the design. Now that the issue has been addressed, groundwork will begin soon.” South Eastern Railway (SER) general manager Anil Kumar Jain had earlier stated that the ROBs are expected to be functional by the end of the year.
About the Author: B Sridhar, based in Jamshedpur, covers the entire Kolhan region, including East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan, reporting on left wing extremism, city life, urban policies, and other topics.
