Lok Sabha Question No. 4280 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: ROBs/RUBs in Virudhunagar
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4280

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## ROBs/RUBs IN VIRUDHUNAGAR

## 4280. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  status  of  the  long-pending  demand  for  the construction of a ROB or RUB in the Virudhunagar Constituency, the time by when the local population likely to find a resolution to this critical infrastructure issue;
- (b) the details of the allocation of funds  required for  railway infrastructure projects in the said district including the construction of ROBs, RUBs and the upgrading of existing tracks, the time when the funds are likely to be disbursed to ensure timely completion;
- (c) whether Government has any plans to reconsider the addition of more stoppages for important trains at Virudhunagar and also review and  adjust  the  current  train  timings  to  meet  the  present  needs  of commuters in the region, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  provided  update  on  the  plans  to upgrade  the  station  to  a  full-fledged  junction  given  the  growing importance  of  Tiruparankundram  railway  station,  if  so,  the  steps taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  accommodate  growing passenger demand?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d):

Infrastructure projects

(i) Road over Bridges /Road Under Bridges (ROBs/RUBs): Sanctioning and  execution  of  works  of  Road  over  Bridges/  Road  under  Bridges (ROBs/RUBs) in lieu of LCs is a continuous and ongoing process on Indian Railways. Such works are prioritized and taken up on the basis of its impact on safety and mobility in train operations and impact on road users.

No.  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 01.04.2024, 4200 Nos. Road Over Bridges (ROBs)/Road Under  Bridges  (RUBs)  are  sanctioned  at  cost  of  ₹  92,692  Cr  on Indian Railways including 240 Nos. ROBs/ RUBs at cost of ₹ 5108 Cr  in  the  state  of  Tamil  Nadu  which  are  at  various  stages  of planning  and  execution.  Out  of  which  88  Nos.  works  have  been delayed  due  to  land  acquisition,  finalization  of  alignment  and consent for closure etc. Expenditure of    ₹ 6,074 crore has been incurred during the year 2024-25(Feb'2025) for the construction of ROB/RUB over Indian Railway.

Presently, 16 Nos. ROBs/RUBs are sanctioned in Virudhunagar district  at  cost  of  ₹  233  crore,  which  are  at  various  stages  of planning and execution.

(ii) New Line/Gauge Conversion/ Doubling projects:-  Railway projects are surveyed/ sanctioned/executed Zonal Railway wise and not State- wise/District-wise  as  the  Railways'  projects  may  span  across  State boundaries. However, as on 01.04.2024, 22 projects (10 New Line, 03 Gauge Conversion and 09 Doubling) of total length 2,587 Km, costing ₹33,467 Crore, falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu, are at various stages of planning and implementation, out of which 665 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹7,153 Crore has  been  incurred  upto  March' 2024.  The summary  is  as under:-

| Plan Head               |   No. of projec ts | Total Length (in Km)   |   Length Commissio ned (in Km) | Expenditure upto March 2024 (₹in Cr.)   |
|-------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| New Line                |                 10 | 872                    |                             24 | 1,223                                   |
| Gauge Conversion        |                  3 | 748                    |                            604 | 3,267                                   |
| Doubling /Multitracking |                  9 | 967                    |                             37 | 2,664                                   |
| Total                   |                 22 | 2,587                  |                            665 | 7,153                                   |

Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu is as under:

| Period   | Outlay                           |
|----------|----------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹879 crore/year                  |
| 2024-25  | ₹6,362 crore (more than 7 times) |

Virudunagar is an existing railway station on Indian Railway network. For  further  improving  the  connectivity  of  Virudunagar,  MaduraiThoothukkudi(Tuticorin)  via  Maniyachi  doubling  project  has  been completed in July 2023.

(iii)  Amrit Bharat Stations:- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme envisages development  of  stations  on  a  continuous  basis  with  a  long-term approach. It involves preparation of master plans and their implementation  in  phases  to  improve  the  amenities  at  the  stations like improvement of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets,  lift/escalators  as  necessary,  platform  surfacing  and  cover over  platform,  cleanliness,  free  Wi-Fi,  kiosks  for  local  products through  schemes  like  'One  Station  One  Product',  better  passenger information systems, executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping, etc. keeping in view the necessity at each station.

The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating the station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities for  Divyangjans,  sustainable  and  environment  friendly  solutions, provision  of  ballastless  tracks,  etc.  as  per  necessity,  phasing  and feasibility and creation of city centre at the station in the long term.

Development/upgradation of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous  and  ongoing  process  and  works  in  this  regard  are undertaken  as  per  requirement,  subject  to  inter-se  priority  and availability  of  funds.  The  priority  for  development/upgradation  of stations is accorded  to  higher  category  of station over  lower category of station while sanctioning and executing the works.

So far, 1337 stations have been identified under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, out of which 77 stations including Virudhunagar station are located in the state of Tamil Nadu. The names of stations identified for  development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Tamil Nadu are as following:

| State      |   No. of Amrit Stations | Names of Amrit Stations                                                          |
|------------|-------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Tamil Nadu |                      77 | Ambasamudram, Ambattur, Arakkonam Jn, Ariyalur, Avadi, Bommidi, Chengalpattu Jn, |

| State   | No. of Amrit Stations   | Names of Amrit Stations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|---------|-------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         |                         | Chennai Beach, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Park, Chidambaram, Chinna Salem, Chrompet, Coimbatore Jn, Coimbatore North, Coonoor, Dharmapuri, Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central, Dindigul, Erode Jn, Guduvancheri, Guindy, Gummidipundi, Hosur, Jolarpettai Jn, Kanniyakumari, Karaikkudi, Karur Jn, Katpadi, Kovilpatti, Kulitturai, Kumbakonam, Lalgudi, Madurai Jn, Mambalam, Manaparai, Mannargudi, Mayiladuturai Jn, Mettupalayam, Morappur, Nagercoil Jn, Namakkal, Palani, Paramakkudi, Perambur, Podanur Jn, Pollachi, Polur, Pudukkottai, Rajapalayam, Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, Salem, Samalpatti, Sholavandan, Srirangam, Srivilliputtur, St. Thomas Mount, Tambaram, Tenkasi, Thanjavur Jn, Thiruvarur Jn, Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli Jn, Tirupadripulyur, Tirupattur, Tiruppur, Tirusulam, Tiruttani, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tuticorin, Udagamandalam, Vellore Cantt., Villupuram Jn, Virudhunagar, Vriddhachalam Jn |

Development  works  at  railway  stations  under  Amrit  Bharat  Station Scheme  in  the  state  of  Tamil  Nadu  have  been  taken  up  at  a  good pace. For example,

-  At  Madurai  station,  structural  works  of  east  side  multi-level two-wheeler parking and electric substation have been completed  and  works  of  east  side  terminal  building,  both sides multi-level car parking, air concourse, parcel Foot Over Bridge, subway, etc. have been taken up.
-  At Chennai Egmore station, structural work of parcel building has been completed and works of both sides multi-level car parking, GI Road side terminal building, etc. have been taken up.
-  At Rameshwaram  station in the state of Tamil Nadu, structural works of north side terminal building, electric substation and construction of parcel office have been completed  and  works  of  construction  of  east  side  terminal building,  arrival  forecourt,  platform  improvement,  etc.  have been taken up.
-  At Virudhunagar station, works of construction of  new entrance arch, compound wall, relocation of service building, improvement  of  platform  surfacing, provision of  covered parking  and  integrated  passenger  information  system  have been completed and works of construction of new foot over bridge, improvement of circulating area, approach road, etc. have been taken up.
-  At  Samalpatti  station,  works  of  construction  of  new  main terminal  building  and  main  entry  side  circulating  area  have
- been  completed  and  works  of  two  wheeler  parking  area, raising of platform, construction of compound wall, etc. have been taken up.
-  At  Karaikkudi  Station,  works  of  improvement  of  platform shelters, seating arrangement, circulating area, parking area, construction  of  new  porch,  entry  and  exit  gates,  lifts  and installation of coach indication boards have been completed. The works for waiting hall, covered pathway, etc. have been taken up.
-  At Ariyalur and Mannargudi stations, works of construction of new entry gates, entrance porch, improvement of circulating area  with  approach  road,  parking  area,  concourse  area, booking counters, platform surface, waiting halls and platform shelters have been completed.

Development / upgradation of stations including under Amrit Bharat Station  Scheme  is  generally  funded  under  Plan  Head-53  'Customer Amenities'. The details of allocation under Plan Head-53 are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not work-wise or station-wise or State-wise. The state of Tamil Nadu is covered under two zones viz. Southern  Railway  and  South  Western  Railway.  For  these  zones,  an allocation of ₹ 1,909 Crores (Revised Estimate) has been made for the financial year 2024-25 under Plan Head-53.

- (iv) Track Upgradation:-Upgradation and improvement of track infrastructure  is  a  continuous  and  ongoing  process  over  Indian Railways.  The following measures  have been  taken by Indian Railways to upgrade railway tracks:
- i. Modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Pre-stressed  Concrete Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide  base  sleepers  with  elastic  fastening,  fan-shaped layout turnout on PSC sleepers, Steel Channel/H-beam Sleepers on  girder  bridges  have  been  used  while  carrying  out  primary track renewals.
- ii. The Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing have been
- used in turnout renewal works.
- iii. Supply  of  130m/260m  long  rail  panels  has  been  increased  to avoid welding of joints, thereby improving safety.
- iv. Adoption  of  better  welding  technology  for  rails  i.e.  Flash  Butt Welding.
- v. Adoption  of  mechanized  system  for  track  maintenance  using high  output  plain  tampers  and  points  &  crossing  tampers  for improved maintainability & reliability of track.
- vi. Deployment of  state-of-the-art  modern  machines  including  Rail Grinding machines manufactured in India on Railway network to
- further improve asset reliability.
- vii. Mechanisation  of  track  laying  activity  through  use  of  track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc.
- viii. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates for enhancing safety at LC gates.
- ix. Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails to detect flaws
- and timely removal of defective rails.
- x. Monitoring  of  track  geometry  by  OMS  (Oscillation  Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).

Completion & commissioning of infrastructure projects including 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. Virudunagar  station  is  presently  being  served  by  4  Passenger services and 80 Mail/Express services including 20665/20666 Chennai Egmore  -  Tirunelveli  Vande  Bharat  Express.  These  services,  which are available throughout  the day, also cater to the needs  of commuters. Besides, provision of stoppage/change in timings of train services is an on-going process on Indian Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, etc.

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