## Policy Summary: Underpasses at Palam and Shahbad Railway Stations
This document summarizes the Indian Railway's response to a parliamentary question regarding the construction of underpasses at the Palam and Shahbad railway crossings in the South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.
The Ministry of Railways affirms that the sanctioning of Road Over Bridges (ROB) and Road Under Bridges (RUB) in lieu of Level Crossings (LC) is an ongoing process, prioritized based on safety, train mobility, impact on road users, and feasibility.
Significant progress has been made in this area: 13,426 ROBs/RUBs were constructed between 2014 and June 2025, including 14 in Delhi, compared to 4,148 constructed between 2004 and 2014. As of April 1, 2025, 4,402 ROBs/RUBs are sanctioned at a cost of ₹1,00,860 Crore across Indian Railways, including 16 ROBs/RUBs in Delhi at a cost of ₹649 Crore, which are in various stages of planning and execution.
Specifically, the construction of RUBs in lieu of Level Crossing No. 15 at the Palam railway crossing (km 18/0-1) and Level Crossing No. 17 at the Shahbad railway crossing (km 20/9-20/10) on the Delhi-Rewari section has been sanctioned. General Arrangement Drawings (GADs) for both projects have been approved, and detailed estimates have also been sanctioned.
The response also notes the existing infrastructure in the vicinity of these crossings: a Limited Height Subway (LHS) No. 18 is located 1.3 km from LC No. 17 (Shahbad), and an ROB is located 200 m from LC No. 15 (Palam).
The completion and commissioning of these ROB/RUB projects are subject to various factors, including: cooperation from State Governments for LC closures, alignment approval, GAD approval, land acquisition, encroachment removal, utility shifting, statutory clearances, law and order, and seasonal working conditions. These factors can influence the overall project timeline.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: A ministry of the Government of India, responsible for the country's railway transport.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Palam Railway Station: A railway station located in Delhi, India, where the construction of an underpass is proposed.
Shahbad Railway Station: A railway station located in Delhi, India, where the construction of an underpass is proposed.
South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency: A Lok Sabha constituency in Delhi, India, where the Palam and Shahbad Railway Stations are located.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology in India.
Indian Railway: The national railway system of India.
Delhi-Rewari section: A railway section where the Palam and Shahbad railway crossings are located.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.517
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
UNDERPASSES AT PALAM AND SHAHBAD RAILWAY STATIONS
†517. SHRI RAMVIR SINGH BIDHURI:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Railways proposes to build underpasses at the
railway crossing near Palam Railway Station and the railway
crossing near Shahbad Railway Station in South Delhi Lok Sabha
constituency, if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether the Railways proposes to provide relief to the public
from the problem which arises due to the closure of railway gates
near these stations as thousands of people get stuck in traffic for
hours daily by building an underpass and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) & (b) : 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.
No. of ROBs/ RUBs constructed on Indian Railways during the
period 2004-14 vis a vis 2014-25 (June’25) is as under:Period ROBs/ RUBs constructed
2004-14 4,148 Nos.
2014-25 (June’25) 13,426 Nos. (Including 14 Nos. in
the State of Delhi)
As on 01.04.2025, 4,402 Nos. ROBs/ RUBs are sanctioned at
the cost of ₹ 1,00,860 Cr on Indian Railways including 16 Nos. Road
Over Bridge (ROB)/Road Under Bridge (RUB) at the cost of ₹ 649
crore in the State of Delhi, which are at various stages of planning
and execution.
The works for construction of Road Under Bridges (RUBs) in
lieu of Level Crossings (LC) No. 15 (Palam railway crossing) at km
18/0-1 and LC No. 17 (Shahbad railway crossing) at Km 20/9-21/0 on
Delhi-Rewari section have been sanctioned. General arrangements
Drawings (GADs) for both works have been approved. Detailed
estimates have also been sanctioned.
Further, a Limited Height Subway (LHS) No. 18 exists at a
distance of 1.3Km from LC No. 17 (Shahbad) and one ROB exists at
a distance of 200 m from LC No. 15 (Palam), which are being used
for crossing the track.
Completion & 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.
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