Govt approves Rs 98.6 crore ROB at Gunadala crossing

Vijayawada: A long-pending solution to the chronic traffic congestion at the busy Gunadala railway level crossing is set to take shape with the government set to finally take up the construction of the road over bridge (ROB) in Gunadala for Rs 98.68 crore.The proposed ROB will replace level crossing gate No. 316 in the Gunadala railway section, one of the busiest railway crossings in Vijayawada. According to project details, nearly 170 trains pass through the crossing every day, forcing the gate to remain closed for 14 to 16 hours daily and causing long traffic snarls for motorists and commuters travelling between Gunadala and Nunna.In the absence of an ROB, commuters currently spend 10 to 15 minutes waiting for the gate to open and face further congestion after it reopens, are expected to cross the railway section in about a minute once the ROB is completed.The project received approval during 2024-25, with an administrative sanction issued on March 30, 2026. The 920-metre-long structure will comprise a 576-metre viaduct, 305 metres of road formation, a 126-metre level section and 794 metres of sloped approaches. It will have 18 spans, a 7.5-metre-wide carriageway, 5.5-metre-wide service roads on both sides, crash barriers and a drainage system, with an overall width of about 24 metres.

The bridge will be built about 10 metres above the railway tracks. Around 5.77 acres of government land will be utilised, if required, for the project. Officials expect the construction to be completed within 18 months.Besides easing congestion, the ROB is expected to improve road and railway safety, reduce travel time between Gunadala and Nunna, and support urban and economic development in the surrounding areas. Once completed, the bridge is expected to benefit thousands of daily commuters who have faced traffic bottlenecks at the level crossing for decades.