Foundation laid for Rs 98 crore ROB at Gunadala rly crossing

Vijayawada: Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 98.68 crore Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Gunadala. The 920-metre long ROB, a long-awaited dream for the people residing in and around Gunadala, is aimed at providing a permanent solution to the chronic traffic congestion at the Gunadala-Nunna railway level crossing.The MP said the project fulfilled a key promise made to residents during the election campaign and reiterated his commitment to completing all assurances given to the public. “Development will not stop. We are committed to fulfilling every promise made to the people,” he said, attributing the project’s progress to the support of the NDA’s double-engine government.The proposed ROB, to be built at level crossing number 316, is expected to ease traffic bottlenecks caused by the movement of nearly 170 trains every day.

The railway gate currently remains closed for 14 to 16 hours daily, forcing thousands of commuters to wait for 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours. Once completed, the waiting time is expected to be reduced to about a minute.The 920-metre-long bridge, comprising 18 spans, will be constructed with service roads, crash barriers and a modern drainage system. The project has been targeted for completion within 18 months.

Chinni further said he had held several discussions with the Union ministry of railways to secure approval for the project. He also announced that another railway overbridge near the Ulavacharu Company would soon be taken up in coordination with Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, with a target of completing it within two years.Railway officials, including ADRM Edwin, DCM Prashanth Kumar and senior engineering officials, and others were present.