**Executive Summary**
This document is the Ministry of Railways' response to a starred question in Lok Sabha regarding the Road Over Bridge (ROB) at the Azimganj-New Farakka section. The question pertains to the status of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), timelines for approval and construction, any constraints delaying the project, and the expected completion date. The response was slated to be answered on December 10, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **ROB/RUB Works Generally:**
* Sanctioning and execution of Road Over Bridges (ROBs)/Road Under Bridges (RUBs) is a continuous process on Indian Railways, prioritized based on safety, mobility, and impact on road users.
* **Construction Statistics:**
* ROB/RUB construction numbers: 4,148 (2004-2014) vs. 13,653 (2014-October 2025).
* **Azimganj-New Farakka ROB Status:**
* The construction of a ROB in lieu of LC No. 43/Spl/E at KM 239/9-10 in the Azimganj-New Farakka section of Malda Division has been sanctioned.
* Work on preparing the General Arrangement Drawing (GAD) and Detailed Estimate is underway.
* **Delays in West Bengal ROB/RUB Projects:**
* Out of 302 sanctioned ROB/RUB works in West Bengal, 99 are delayed due to issues involving the State Government.
* Reasons for delays:
* Finalization of Alignment (41 works)
* General Arrangement Drawing stage (14 works)
* NOC for closure of LC (27 works)
* Land Acquisition (10 works)
* Law & Order/ Public Protest (7 works)
* **Factors Affecting Completion:**
* ROB/RUB completion depends on state government cooperation (closure of LC, fixing of approach alignment, approval of GAD), land acquisition, removal of encroachment, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances, law and order, and climatic conditions.
* **Measures to Expedite Progress:**
* Joint surveys with state governments/road owning authorities before finalizing GAD.
* Periodic meetings between Railway and State Government officials.
* Standardization of superstructure drawings to avoid design approval delays.
* Execution of ROB/RUB works on a single entity basis by Railway wherever possible; flexibility for Road Owning Authority/State Govt. to execute.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Railways**
* **Impact:** Required to continuously sanction and execute ROB/RUB projects, address project delays, and expedite the progress of construction.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing measures to expedite ROB/RUB construction.
**Stakeholder: State Governments (specifically West Bengal)**
* **Impact:** Directly impacts the progress of ROB/RUB construction projects within the state.
* **Action Required:** Improve cooperation with the Ministry of Railways on project-related issues such as finalizing alignment, providing NOCs, facilitating land acquisition, and addressing law and order concerns.
**Stakeholder: Road Users / Public**
* **Impact:** Directly impacted through safety and mobility issues.
* **Action Required:** To follow any safety guidelines issued during construction.
**Stakeholder: Train Operators**
* **Impact:** Directly impacted through safety and mobility issues.
* **Action Required:** To follow any safety guidelines issued during construction.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The central ministry responsible for the construction and maintenance of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) discussed in the document.
Road Over Bridge (ROB): The main subject of the document, specifically the construction of a Road Over Bridge at Level Crossing No. 43/Spl/E on the Azimganj-New Farakka section.
Azimganj-New Farakka section: The specific railway section where the Road Over Bridge construction is planned.
West Bengal: The state where multiple Road Over Bridge/Road Under Bridge works are delayed.
Detailed Project Report (DPR): The document requested about the Road Over Bridge construction project.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.144
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025
ROB AT AZIMGANJ-NEW FARAKKA SECTION
* 144. SHRI ISHA KHAN CHOUDHURY:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for
construction of the Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Level Crossing No.
43/Spl/E on the Azimganj–New Farakka section under Maldaha
Dakshin Lok Sabha Constituency;
(b) the timelines proposed for approval/sanction/commencement of
the ROB construction;
(c) whether any constraints (technical/administrative/financial) are
delaying the project and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the expected time by which the ROB is likely to be completed and
opened to the public?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED
QUESTION NO. 144 BY SHRI ISHA KHAN CHOUDHURY TO BE ANSWERED
IN LOK SABHA ON 10.12.2025
(a) to (d) : Sanctioning and execution of works of Road Over Bridges/ Road
Under Bridges (ROBs/RUBs) 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.
Nos. of ROBs/ RUBs constructed on Indian Railways during the period
2004-14 vis a vis 2014-25 (Oct’25) is as under:
Period ROBs/ RUBs constructed
2004-14 4,148 Nos.
2014-25 (Oct’25) 13,653 Nos.
The construction work of ROB in lieu of LC No. 43/Spl/E at KM 239/9-
10 in Azimganj- New Farakka section of Malda Division has been
sanctioned. The work for preparation of General Arrangement Drawing
(GAD) and Detailed Estimate has been taken up.
Out of 302 Nos. sanctioned ROB/RUB works in West Bengal, 99 Nos.
ROB/RUB works are delayed on account of the State Govt. The details are
as under:
SN Reason ROB/RUB works
(in Nos.)
1. Finalization of Alignment 41
2. General Arrangement Drawing stage 14
3. NOC for closure of LC 27
4. Land Acquisition 10
5. Law & Order/ Public Protest 7
Total held up due to Govt. of West Bengal 99Completion & commissioning of 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.
Railways have taken following measures to expedite the progress of
ROB/RUB works:
(i) Joint survey with concerned State Govt./Road Owning Authority is
done before finalizing the General Arrangement Drawing (GAD)
to ensure smooth execution.
(ii) Periodic meetings of Railway & State Government officials are
done to resolve various issues related to ROB/RUB works.
(iii) Standardization of superstructure drawings for various
combinations of span, skewness and width of road on Railway
portion has been done to avoid delays during the design approval.
This has been issued in the form of compendium, which can be
directly adopted for Road Over Bridge across Railway lines for
expeditious planning.
(iv) ROB/RUB works are planned to be executed on a single entity
basis by Railway wherever possible. In case any Road Owning
authority/State Govt. wants, then Railway may permit them to
execute the work on a single entity basis.
*****