November 24, 2025: Motorists halt for passing trains, and trains are forced to wait for motorists to clear the tracks — a cycle that plays out more than 40 times daily, causing major delays across both suburban and long-distance rail networks. At the centre of this recurring chaos is a lack of planning and coordination between multiple authorities. The road overbridge (ROB) at Diva, built to replace the level crossing, is structurally ready over the railway tracks, yet remains unusable because land for its approach roads on either side has not been secured. As our report noted, this is far from an isolated incident.
Central Railway has recently flagged seven such ROBs across the Mumbai division where the rail portion of the structure is complete, but the bridges are left hanging — disconnected and unused — because local bodies have not built the approach roads. Internal documents show that these incomplete bridges along the CSMT–Kalyan main line, the Kalyan–Karjat and Karjat–Lonavla stretches, and the Panvel–Roha corridor are stalled due to unresolved land disputes and prolonged administrative delays.
This situation must be untangled urgently. The consequences are already severe. Public funds invested in these bridges appear wasted when the structures cannot be put to use. Trains continue to face delays as level crossings must remain operational, defeating the entire purpose of constructing the ROBs. On top of this, the daily gridlock fuels commuter frustration, stress, and rising mental fatigue.
Civic bodies and local authorities need to bring long-pending land issues to a close through dialogue, negotiation, and mutually agreeable solutions. Moving forward, all land, design, and execution clearances should be finalised before construction begins. Infrastructure projects must be delivered in a coordinated, dispute-free manner so that time, money, and public resources are not squandered — and commuters finally receive the smooth transit experience these bridges were meant to provide.
Source: Mid-day
