Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the state will prioritise the construction of 145 railway overbridges (ROBs) over the next three years as part of an infrastructure drive aimed at eliminating railway level crossings and improving road safety.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of a four-lane road overbridge at Vardhaman Nagar railway crossing, along with eight other infrastructure projects collectively valued at ₹484 crore. The projects have been executed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MahaRail).
Emphasising the importance of safer transport networks, Fadnavis said railway level crossings continue to pose a major safety challenge across the country. He highlighted that nearly 21,000 deaths occur annually due to accidents at railway crossings.
The Chief Minister said Maharashtra has identified 524 locations where railway overbridges are required. Of these, approvals have already been secured for 121 high-traffic locations, while another 145 sites have been shortlisted for priority execution over the next three years.
The infrastructure push is also expected to benefit the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), where MahaRail is currently undertaking several railway overbridge projects to improve connectivity, reduce congestion and enhance commuter safety.
Major projects in the region include the Prabhadevi and Sewree road overbridges, the under-construction double-decker railway overbridge at Elphinstone and multiple bridge projects across Thane.
These projects are aimed at improving east-west connectivity, reducing delays caused by railway crossings and providing smoother movement for motorists in densely populated urban areas.
Officials said the elimination of level crossings through road overbridges and underpasses will help reduce traffic bottlenecks while ensuring safer movement of vehicles and pedestrians. The state government’s three-year plan is expected to accelerate infrastructure development across Maharashtra, particularly in rapidly growing urban regions such as the MMR.
Source: Mumbai Live
