Lok Sabha Question No. 2996 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Widening of three Subways under Eastern Railway
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Rachna Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2996

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2025

## WIDENING OF THREE SUBWAYS UNDER EASTERN RAILWAY

## 2996.  SMT. RACHNA BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received a number of communications  since  several  years  from  local  residents, civic bodies and peoples' representative for widening of three subways under Howrah-Bandel Main Line and subway of goods mainline  at  Bhadreshwar  and  Mankhurd  Railway  Stations, Eastern Railway;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  any  feasibility  study  was  done  for  this  works  long back;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether it is not true that the situation has changed since the feasibility study was done;
- (f) if so, whether the Government has initiated feasibility study of these works looking at the mainfold increase of the population of this area and considered them; and
- (g)
- if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (g):  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 2014-24 is as under:

| Period   | ROBs/RUBs constructed           |
|----------|---------------------------------|
| 2004-14  | 4,148 Nos.                      |
| 2014-24  | 11,945 Nos. (about three Times) |

As on 01.02.2025, 4344 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 ₹ 5778 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 2014-24, total 443 Nos. of ROBs/RUBs were constructed in the state of West Bengal.

During  2024-25  (upto  Jan'25),  827  Nos.  of  ROBs/RUBs  have been constructed on Indian Railways including 28 Nos. of ROBs/RUBs in the State of West Bengal.

Proposals/requests/suggestions/representations, both formal and informal for Road over Bridges/Road Under Bridges (ROBs/RUBs)  are  received  from  State  Governments,  Members  of Parliament,  elected  representatives,  Railways'  own  requirements, organizations/rail  users  etc.  at  various  levels  including  Railway

Board,  Zonal  Railways,  Division  Office  etc.  As  receipt  of  such proposals/complaints/suggestions is a continuous  and  dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained.  However,  these  are  examined  and  action  as  found feasible and justified is taken from time to time. Accordingly, feasibility for widening of 03 Nos. of subways on Howrah-Bandel section has been examined and is found technically not  feasible  due  to  presence  of  densely  populated  area  on  both sides  of  the  track.  Similarly,  construction  of  03  Nos.  additional subways at goods mainline Bhadreswar, Bhadreswar Railway station and Mankundu railway station is also not found technically feasible.

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