**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 137 in Lok Sabha, answered on January 29, 2026, regarding the construction of a six-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Nadal, Kannur. It addresses the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Ministry of Railways (MoR) for replacing level crossings with ROBs, the traffic congestion at Nadal Gate, the progress of the Nadal ROB construction and the anticipated deadline for its completion.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **MoU between MoRTH and MoR:**
* A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on November 10, 2014, between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Ministry of Railways (MoR) to replace level crossings on National Highways with Road Over Bridges (ROBs)/Road Under Bridges (RuBs) on a single-entity basis.
* As per the MoU, MoRTH/NHAI shall not levy Supervision Charges, Departmental Charges, Maintenance Charges, and Land Lease Charges where railway track crosses National Highways in case of New Railway Line/Gauge Conversion.
* Railways will not levy Supervision Charges, Departmental Charges, Maintenance Charges and Land Lease Charges for ROBs/RUBs being constructed by NHAI or National Highway (NH) wing of State Public Works Department (PWD) on NH Corridors.
* **Nadal Gate Level Crossing (LC) No. 238:**
* The Nadal Gate Level Crossing (LC) No. 238 in Kannur District of Kerala is not on a National Highway and falls under the jurisdiction of the State Government.
* **Replacement of Level Crossings on Bypassed Sections:**
* For bypasses constructed after November 10, 2014, but before January 1, 2022, the State Government may remove level crossings on the bypassed sections of National Highways by constructing a new ROB or Limited Height Subway (LHS) under the Setu Bandhan scheme under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
* For bypasses constructed before November 10, 2014, Railways will replace the level crossings on the bypassed section through their own resources.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)**
* **Impact:** Primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways in the country.
* **Action Required:** None specified in the document.
**Ministry of Railways (MoR)**
* **Impact:** Involved in the MoU for replacing level crossings with ROBs/RuBs and responsible for replacing LCs on bypassed sections constructed prior to 10.11.2014.
* **Action Required:** Replace level crossings on the bypassed sections constructed prior to November 10, 2014 through their own resources.
**National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)**
* **Impact:** Constructing the Nadal ROB as part of the NH-66 expansion project.
* **Action Required:** None specified in the document.
**State Government of Kerala**
* **Impact:** The Nadal Gate LC No. 238 falls under its jurisdiction. Can remove LCs on bypasses constructed after 10.11.2014 but prior to 01.01.2022.
* **Action Required:** Assess and potentially remove the LC No. 238 or construct a ROB/LHS at Nadal Gate, and remove level crossings on bypassed sections of National Highways constructed after November 10, 2014, but before January 1, 2022, by constructing a new ROB or Limited Height Subway (LHS) based on site requirement under Setu Bandhan scheme under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund(CRIF).
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH): Primary ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways and signing of the MoU.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): Executing agency for the construction of the Nadal Road Over Bridge (ROB) as part of the NH-66 expansion project.
Ministry of Railways (MoR): Party to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MoRTH to replace level crossings with Road over Bridges (ROBs).
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): Agreement between MoRTH and the Ministry of Railways (MoR) to replace level crossings on National Highways with Road over Bridges (ROBs).
NH-66: National Highway where the construction of a six-lane road over bridge at Nadal, Kannur is taking place.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 137
ANSWERED ON 29th January, 2026
CONSTRUCTION OF SIX-LANE ROAD OVER BRIDGE AT NADAL,
KANNUR
137. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways (MoRTH) and the Ministry of Railways (MoR) to
replace level crossings on National Highways with Road over
Bridges (RoBs) on a single-entity basis, if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware of the critical traffic
congestion at Nadal Gate (LC No. 238) on NH-66 in Kannur in
Kerala and if so, the details of the approved General
Arrangement Drawing (GAD) for the proposed six-lane ROB;
(c) the current physical and financial progress of the construction
of the Nadal ROB being executed by the National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI) as part of the NH-66 expansion
project; and
(d) the anticipated deadline for the completion and
commissioning of the six-lane ROB at Nadal to make this
stretch of NH-66 signal-free?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) Yes Sir, The Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Ministry of Railways on 10.11.2014 to replace level crossings onNational Highways in the country with Road over Bridges
(RoBs)/Road under Bridges(RuBs) on a single-entity basis. As per
MoU, “ MORTH/NHAI shall not levy Supervision Charges,
Departmental Charges, Maintenance Charges and Land Lease
Charges where railway track crosses National Highways in case of
New Railway Line/Gauge Conversion. Railways will not levy
Supervision Charges, Departmental Charges, Maintenance Charges
and Land Lease Charges for ROBs/RUBs being constructed by NHAI
or National Highway(NH) wing of State Public Works
Department(PWD) on NH Corridors.”
(b) to (d) Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is
primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National
Highways in the country. The Level Crossing (LC) No. 238 in
Kannur District of State of Kerala is presently not on a National
Highway and is under the jurisdiction of State Government.
Government has decided that in cases where bypasses have been
constructed prior to 01.01.2022 but after 10.11.2014 (date of signing
of MOU with Railways), the LCs falling on such by-passed section of
National Highways may be removed by the State Government by
construction of a new ROB or Limited Height Subway (LHS) based
on site requirement under Setu Bandhan scheme under Central
Road and Infrastructure Fund(CRIF). Cases where bypasses have
been constructed prior to 10.11.2014, Railways shall replace the
LCs falling on such bypassed section through their own resources.
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