Railway ministry approves new ROB to be built in Sonepur

Patna: The railway ministry has approved the long-awaited proposal to construct a road over bridge (ROB) between Dighwara and Ambika Bhawani Halt on the Sonepur-Chhapra section falling under the Sonepur division of the East Central Railway (ECR).According to ECR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra, the decision was taken with the objective of easing severe traffic congestion at the busy railway level crossing gate number 16 in the area. “The crossing gate recorded a high traffic volume of 3,83,990 traffic vehicle units during a traffic survey conducted in August 2021 underscoring the urgent need for an alternative route as well as construction of ROB,” he said.

The ROB will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 124.78 crore. “In addition to the overbridge, the railways will also build a low-height subway to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians, ensuring smoother connectivity for local residents of the area,” the CPRO said.On its completion, the ROB will directly connect to the National Highway 31A, significantly improving access to the Patna-Chhapra highway.

“Besides, the new ROB is expected to reduce travel time, improve road safety and support economic activities in the region,” Chandra said.Reacting to the railway decision to construct an ROB, local residents and commuters have welcomed the approval calling it a long-pending demand that will bring much-needed relief from frequent traffic jams and long waiting hours at the railway crossing gate. The project is expected to play a crucial role in improving overall connectivity and infrastructure development in the coming days, a senior Sonepur railway official said.