**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to a parliamentary question regarding unmanned level crossings in Kerala and the status of level crossings across India. It provides data on the number of manned level crossings, the elimination of unmanned level crossings, and efforts to improve safety. The document highlights measures taken to expedite the construction of Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges (ROBs/RUBs). The answer was to be provided on 11.02.2026, and data is current as of 01.01.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Level Crossing Status:**
* As of 01.04.2025, there were 16,499 manned level crossings on Indian Railways, with 378 in Kerala.
* All unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) network of Indian Railways were eliminated by 31.01.2019.
* **Elimination of Level Crossings (LCs):**
* LCs are eliminated by constructing Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs), direct closure, or diversion of road traffic.
* Construction of ROBs/RUBs is an ongoing process, prioritized based on safety, mobility, and impact on road users.
* **ROB/RUB Construction:**
* From 2014-25 (upto Dec'25), 13,882 ROBs/RUBs were constructed, including 121 in Kerala.
* As of 01.01.2026, 4,769 ROBs/RUBs have been sanctioned at a cost of ₹ 1,14,298 crore, including 139 in Kerala at a cost of ₹ 4,932 crore.
* 105 ROBs are delayed due to State Government issues (land acquisition and alignment finalization).
* **Measures to Expedite ROB/RUB Works:**
* Joint surveys with State Governments.
* Periodic meetings between Railway and State Government officials.
* Standardization of superstructure drawings.
* Execution of ROB/RUB works on a single entity basis.
* **Accidents & Safety Measures:**
* One consequential accident occurred in 2025-26 (up to 31st January, 2026), resulting in 3 fatalities.
* Safety measures include interlocking high Rail/Road vehicular traffic level crossings with signals (done at 10,097 gates up to 31.12.2025) inspection drives, and public awareness campaigns.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: General Public / Commuters / Road Users**
* **Impact:**
* Improved safety and reduced delays due to the elimination of UMLCs and construction of ROBs/RUBs.
* Safer passage at level crossings through interlocking systems, inspection drives and public awareness campaigns.
* **Action Required:**
* Be aware of safety guidelines and follow safety precautions while crossing railway tracks.
**Stakeholder: State Government (Specifically Kerala)**
* **Impact:**
* Required to cooperate with Railways on land acquisition, alignment approval, and other statutory clearances for ROB/RUB projects.
* Accountability for delays in ROB construction due to land acquisition and alignment finalization.
* **Action Required:**
* Expedite land acquisition and finalize alignment plans for ROB/RUB projects.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Railways**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for eliminating level crossings, constructing ROBs/RUBs, and ensuring safety at level crossings.
* Required to coordinate with State Governments and address issues causing delays in project completion.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to prioritize and execute ROB/RUB projects.
* Address factors affecting completion time such as weather and cooperation from State Governments.
* Continue to implement safety measures and conduct public awareness campaigns.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways: The primary entity responsible for railway infrastructure and safety measures related to level crossings in India.
Unmanned Level Crossings (ULCs): Level crossings without gatekeepers, posing a safety risk, and targeted for elimination.
Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges (ROBs/RUBs): Infrastructure built to replace level crossings and improve railway safety.
Ministry of Railways: The central government ministry responsible for policy and administration of the Indian Railways.
Kerala: A specific state in India mentioned in the context of level crossings and infrastructure projects.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2024
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026
UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS IN KERALA
2024. SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of level crossings across the country at present;
(b) the details of Unmanned Level Crossings (ULCs) in the country including
Kerala;
(c) the deadline fixed by the Government to do away with the unmanned
level crossings on all the operational lines;
(d) whether the Government has fixed any time-frame to ensure that all
abandoned railway crossings will be safe for people/commuters and if
so, the details thereof;
(e) the alternative provisions that the Government has made for the users
where the unmanned level crossings have been done away with;
(f) the number of people killed at level crossings in the country during the
year 2025 and the action taken by the Government to minimize such
accidents; and
(g) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent accidents at
the railway level crossing?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (g): As on 01.04.2025, there are 16,499 Nos. of manned Level
Crossings (MLCs) on Indian Railways including 378 Nos. in the State of
Kerala. All Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG)
network of Indian Railways have been eliminated by 31.01.2019.
§Level Crossings (LCs) are eliminated either by providing Road over
Bridges/ Road under Bridges (ROBs/ RUBs) in lieu of LCs or through direct
closure (for low traffic LCs) or by diversion of road traffic to nearby
ROB/RUB/LC depending upon the site conditions.
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 (upto Dec’25) is as under:
Period ROBs/ RUBs constructed
2004-14 4,148 Nos.
2014-25 (upto Dec’25) 13,882 Nos. (Including 121
Nos. in the State of Kerala)
As on 01.01.2026, 4,769 Nos. Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges
(ROBs/RUBs) across railways tracks have been sanctioned at the cost of ₹
1,14,298 crore on Indian Railways including 139 Nos. ROBs/RUBs at a cost
of ₹ 4,932 crore in the State of Kerala which are at various stages of
planning and execution.
A total of 105 Nos. ROBs are delayed on account of the State Govt.
The details are as under:
S.No. Reason ROBs (in No.)
1. Delay in Land Acquisition by State Govt. 37
2. Finalization of Alignment by State Govt. 633. Law & order/ Public Protest/Court cases etc. 2
4. Agency yet to be fixed 3
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.
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.During the year 2025-26 (Up to 31st January, 2026), only one
consequential accident has taken place at Level Crossing on Indian Railways.
In this accident, 3 persons unfortunately lost their lives.
Following steps have been taken by Indian Railways to minimize rail
accidents at LCs in the country:
Level Crossings having high Rail/Road vehicular traffic are interlocked
with signals for enhancing safety. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC)
Gates has been provided at 10,097 Level Crossing Gates up to
31.12.2025 for enhancing safety at LC Gates.
Inspection drives are carried out time to time to ensure availability of
basic infrastructure at level crossings such as whistle boards, road
warning boards, speed breakers etc.
Public awareness campaigns/safety slogans are undertaken to create
safety consciousness among road users for safe passage at level
crossings.
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