The Indian Railways has sanctioned the construction of 15 new road over bridges (ROBs) across Bihar for the fiscal year 2024-25. This initiative, part of the broader ‘Setu Bandhan’ scheme, aims to significantly improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at critical railway crossings within the state.
Nine of these ROBs are set to be built within the Samastipur division of the East Central Railway (ECR). According to Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Vinay Srivastava, these structures will be constructed at strategic locations including Laheriasarai-Darbhanga gate number 25, Darbhanga-Mahmadpur gate numbers 2 and 28, Thalwara-Laheriasarai gate number 18, Motihari Court-Bapudham Motihari gate number 160, Kaparpura-Kanti gate number 112, Motipur-Mahwal gate number 124, Sugauli-Majhaulia gate number 178, and Majhaulia-Bettiah gate number 188.
The ROBs will be distributed across Darbhanga, East Champaran, West Champaran, and Muzaffarpur districts. Each of these locations has been chosen to address significant traffic bottlenecks that affect daily commutes and logistics. Additionally, six more ROBs have been approved for construction in Nawada, Begusarai, and Katihar districts. The total expenditure for this extensive project is estimated at ₹669 crore. The railway authorities have set a three-year timeline for the completion of these bridges, ensuring that they are operational by the end of the stipulated period. This initiative not only aims to enhance connectivity but also reflects the government’s commitment to modernising infrastructure and improving the efficiency of transportation networks across Bihar.