Indian Railways Triples ROB/RUB Construction for Safer Travel

The Ministry of Railways has highlighted a major achievement in infrastructure development: Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) construction has tripled in the last 11 years compared to the previous decade.

Key Figures
- 2004–2014: 4,148 ROBs/RUBs constructed.
- 2014–2025 (Oct): 13,653 ROBs/RUBs constructed.
- This represents a threefold increase, prioritizing safety and smoother mobility for both rail and road users.

Why It Matters
- ROBs/RUBs replace level crossings, reducing accidents and delays.
- Enhances train punctuality and road traffic flow.
- Supports the government’s mission of zero accidents and improved passenger safety.

State-Level Updates
- West Bengal: Out of 302 sanctioned works, 99 are delayed due to state-level issues (alignment, land acquisition, NOC approvals, public protests).
- Telangana: 17 out of 63 sanctioned works delayed, mainly due to land acquisition.
- Andhra Pradesh: 316 ROB/RUB projects sanctioned at a cost of ₹11,686 crore.
- Uttar Pradesh: 252 works completed between 2023–24 and 2024–25.
- Maharashtra: 275 projects sanctioned at a cost of ₹5,506 crore.

Measures Taken to Expedite Work
- Joint surveys with state governments before finalizing designs.
- Periodic meetings to resolve bottlenecks.
- Standardized superstructure drawings to avoid design delays.
- Single-entity execution by Railways wherever possible.

Takeaway:
Indian Railways has made safety-centric infrastructure a priority, tripling bridge construction to eliminate level crossings and ensure smoother, safer journeys across the country.