Lok Sabha Question No. 4179 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: ROB at Rangapani Level Crossing
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4179 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## ROB AT RANGAPANI LEVEL CROSSING

4179. SHRI RAJU BISTA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  status  of  the  proposal  for  the  construction  of  a  Railway Overbridge (ROB) at Rangapani Level Crossing (LC) in North Bengal;
- (b) the details of the project including the funds allocated and the
- expected timeline for its completion; and
- (c) whether there has been any delay in the construction of the ROB and if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c): The work of construction of Road over Bridge (ROB) in lieu of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  No.  NC-5  was  sanctioned  on  cost  sharing basis  in  2016-17  with  State  Govt.  of  West  Bengal.  Due  to  no response/  unwillingness  regarding  sharing  of  cost  by  State  Govt., this work has not progressed so far.

However  keeping  in  view  the  persistence  public  demand  & improving safety of the train operations and mobility of road users, it has now been decided to take up this work at railway's cost.

Sanctioning  of  works  of  Road  over  Bridge  (ROB)/Road  under Bridge  (RUB)  in  lieu  of  Level  crossings  (LCs)  is  a  continuous  and dynamic process of Indian Railway. Such works are prioritised and taken  up  on  the  basis  of  its  impact  on  safety  in  train  operations, mobility of trains & impact for road users and feasibility etc.

Nos. of ROBs/RUBs constructed on Indian Railways during the period 2004-14 vis a vis 2014-25 (Feb'25) is as under:

| Period           | ROBs/RUBs constructed   |
|------------------|-------------------------|
| 2004-14          | 4,148 Nos.              |
| 2014-25 (Feb'25) | 12,977 Nos.             |

As  on  01.02.2025,  4,344  Nos.  ROBs/RUBs  are  sanctioned  at the cost of ₹ 97,422 crore on Indian Railways including 236 Nos. of Road Over Bridge (ROB)/Road Under Bridge (RUB) works at cost of ₹ 5,778 crore in the state of West Bengal, which are at various stage of planning and execution. 89 Nos. works out of 236 Nos. have been delayed  due  to  land  acquisition,  cost-sharing  and  consent  for closure etc.

During  2014-25  (Feb'25),  total  471  Nos.  of  ROBs/RUBs  have been constructed in the state of West Bengal.

Completion  &  commissioning  of  ROB/RUB  works  depends  on various  factors  like  cooperation  of   State  Governments  in  giving consent for closure of LC,  fixing of approach alignment, approval of General  Arrangement  Drawing  (GAD),  land  acquisition,  removal  of encroachment,  shifting  of  infringing  utilities,  statutory  clearances from  various  authorities,   law  and  order  situation  in  the  area  of project /  work sites,  duration of working season in a year for the particular project /  area   due to climatic conditions etc.  All these factors affect the completion time of the projects / works.

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