Odisha Accelerates ROB Construction; East Coast Railway to Build 96 Over Bridges at Its Own Cost

Bhubaneswar: In a major push to strengthen Odisha’s road infrastructure and ease traffic congestion, the State Government has stepped up efforts to expedite the construction of Railway Over Bridges (ROBs) across the state. A high-level review meeting between senior officials of the East Coast Railway and the Works Department was held recently to assess the progress of 166 ROBs proposed on Works Department roads at various locations in Odisha.

The meeting was chaired by Principal Secretary, Works Department, Sanjay Kumar Singh, who emphasised the critical role of ROBs in improving road connectivity, reducing travel time and enhancing the safety of commuters by eliminating railway level crossings.

During the review, officials acknowledged that the progress of ROB projects had been sluggish over the past few years. However, with proactive initiatives taken by the State Government and effective utilisation of the Government of India’s Railway Policy–2024, a significant breakthrough has been achieved. It was decided that a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed under which the East Coast Railway will construct 96 Railway Over Bridges entirely at its own cost.

By implementing such a large number of ROB projects under the new railway policy, Odisha has emerged as a frontrunner at the national level, setting a notable benchmark in coordinated infrastructure development.

The meeting also witnessed detailed discussions on critical issues such as land acquisition, construction quality, adherence to timelines, and the need for stronger coordination among state departments and district administrations to ensure smooth and timely execution of projects. To fast-track land acquisition for approach roads, nodal officers have been appointed for 112 Railway Over Bridges.