Lok Sabha Question No. 2786 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: LC-57 at Latteri Railway Station in Vellore
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2786 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## LC-57 AT LATTERI RAILWAY STATION IN VELLORE

## 2786. THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Government  is  aware  that  Level  Crossing  No.  57 (LC-57)  at  Latteri  railway  station  near  Katpadi  in  Vellore  Lok Sabha  Constituency  poses  safety  risks  due  to  frequent  train movements, rising vehicular traffic, long gate closures and the risk of accidents, especially in light of recent incidents at noninterlocked level crossings across Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any proposal exists to eliminate LC-57 by constructing a ROB or RUB, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the status of the Road Rail Bridge project at Katpadi junction on NH-75, including  funds allocated, tender  finalization,  expected completion date and integration with Katpadi station redevelopment and Vellore bypass projects; and
- (d) the steps taken to expedite these projects in line with national railway modernization and safety objectives?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (d)  :    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 Railways. 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 (June'25) is as under:

| Period            | ROBs/ RUBs constructed                                      |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2004-14           | 4,148 Nos.                                                  |
| 2014-25 (June'25) | 13,426 Nos. (including 747 Nos. in the State of Tamil Nadu) |

As  on  01.04.2025,  4,402  Nos.  ROBs/  RUBs  are  sanctioned  at the cost of ₹1,00,860 Cr on Indian Railways including 235 Nos. Road Over Bridge (ROB)/Road Under Bridge (RUB) at the cost of ₹4,669 crore  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu,  which  are  at  various  stages  of planning and execution.

Level Crossing (LC) No. 57 at Km 136/900-137/000 at  Latteri Yard  on Arakkonam-Jolarpettai  section of Chennai  division is protected by gate signals (inter-locked). The work for construction of Road Over Bridge in lieu of this Level Crossing was sanctioned on cost  sharing  basis.  Subsequently,  construction  of  approaches  of this ROB has been found not feasible due to dense populated area on both sides. Accordingly, this work was not taken up.

However,  construction  of  Limited  Height  Subway  (LHS)  has been  found  feasible.  Accordingly,  a  work  of  construction  of Subway has been sanctioned recently.

The work of Katpadi railway station has been taken up for redevelopment under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS). The structural works of RPF and scout building have been completed. The works for foundation of departure terminal, multi level car parking, parcel office, structural works of staff quarters and finishing works of RPF barrack and scout building have been taken up. The  work  of  additional  02  lane  ROB  adjacent  to  existing  02lane  ROB  passing  through  Katpadi  Junction  on  NH-75  has  been taken  up  by  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and  Highways/National Highways  Authority  of  India  (MoRTH/NHAI).  General  Arrangement Drawing  (GAD)  has  been  approved.  The  work  of  design  has  been taken  up.  The  master  plan  of  the  Katpadi  Junction  station envisages  the integration of Road  over  bridge  (ROB) with departure  and  arrival  terminal  building  by  skywalk  near  the existing bus stop on the south side of station. Vellore bypass project includes construction of two Road Over Bridges  (ROBs)  at  Non-Level  Crossing  locations,  One  ROB  at Railway km 137/600-700 between Latteri and Vrinjipuram stations in Arakkonam-Jolarpettai section of Chennai Division and another ROB at  Railway  km.  140/800-900  between  Kaniyambadi  &  Pennathur stations in Villupuram-Katpadi section of Thiruchchirappalli division.  These  works  are  being  executed  by  NH  Wing  of  the Government of Tamil Nadu on single entity basis. GADs are yet to be submitted.

Completion of Railway project/s including ROBs/RUBs depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance  by  officials of forest  department,  shifting of infringing  utilities,  statutory  clearances  from  various  authorities, geological  and  topographical  conditions  of  area,  law  and  order situation in the area of project/s site, number of working months in a  year  for  particular  project  site  etc.  All  these  factors  affect  the completion time and cost of the project/s.

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