Mumbai: Central Railway to ‘dig deeper’ to shut level crossings

The approach road to the road under bridge that was constructed on the Diva-Panvel line

With road over bridges proving to be expensive and time-consuming to construct, Mumbai region railway now seems to have got a new quick-fix concept of vehicle road under bridges at road intersections to shut level crossings, speed up trains and avoid traffic jams. As many as 255 have been planned on Central Railway with over 20 just in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to replace road crossings.

This was disclosed in the Parliament on Wednesday after Mumbai North East MP Manoj Kotak raised a query about the status of railway bridges in Mumbai and surroundings.

"Several road under bridges have been planned to eliminate level crossings. It is a faster way to build an east-west connect, as compared to road over bridges which involve a tedious and complex methodology. It requires lesser blocks as no big girder installation is involved, the co-ordination with local municipal bodies is also faster and the overall work cost is low and affordable. In all, the work is faster, cheaper and helps the local township with east west connectivity and to speed up trains by eliminating level crossings," a senior official said.

Central Railways says it aims to shut all level crossings eventually

"The only matter of concern that remains is the threat of monsoon and drainage issues, which are carefully examined individually before construction of every road under bridge," he added.

As per the official document, a total number of 255 Road Under Bridges (RUBs) are proposed to be constructed on Central Railway. In Mumbai alone, a total of 22 have been proposed, of which one has already been constructed. The target of completion of RUBs depends upon many factors like catchment area/extent of drainage improvement works in state government portion, land acquisition, encroachment, if any, on the approaches etc. The progress of work usually matches the availability of funds.

An official said that the Indian Railway has a zone-wise target of eliminating maximum level crossings to speed up trains.

Of the completed road under bridges is the one on the Diva-Panvel line that was ready by November 2020 in the lockdown and which eliminated a level crossing. It cost R30 crore. The others planned include one more on the Diva-Panvel line, one on the Panvel-Jasai line, two on the Diva-Roha section, 10 on Kalyan-Igatpuri section, including the suburban lines, six on the Panvel-Roha line and one on the Thane-Airoli section.

255
Road under bridges planned by the CR

22
No. of road under bridges planned in Mumbai region