ROURKELA: While five more Road Over Bridges (ROBs) have been proposed in Rourkela City to ease heavy rush of trains on the busy Howrah-Mumbai main line, two ongoing ROB projects are moving at a snail’s pace.The Rourkela Smart City is equally divided by Howrah-Mumbai rail lines and on an average, over 140 passenger and goods trains ply on the route everyday. Over the last six decades, two ROBs on the ring road of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) have been the only source for uninterrupted flow of vehicular traffic.
Since September 2013, the first ROB of the Public Works Department (PWD) and South Eastern Railway (SER) has been put to use over Level Crossing (LC)-210 at Basanti Colony.Sources in the PWD’s Road and Building (R&B) Division, Rourkela informed that setting up an ROB over LC-209 in Malgodam area is of significant importance as the Odisha Government in August, 2016 had sent an estimate of `46.95 crore to the SER urging the latter to work out its part. This apart, the cost of the ROB over LC-207 at Kukudagate of Bondamunda is estimated at `44.46 crore, the sources said and added that tender is likely to be floated shortly once the Government gives the administrative approval.
Similarly, the R&B in July, 2016 had sent its estimate of `14.95 crore for the ROB over LC-210 at Kalunga on the outskirts of the city while that of SER is pending.The sources further said two ROBs have been proposed for IDC area of Kalunga on the city outskirts. In August 2016, the R&B had sent its estimate of `52.53 crore for the ROB over LC-214 at IDC area while SER’s estimate is pending. For the second ROB over LC-215 in IDC area, the R&B had sent its estimate of `25.23 crore in April, 2016. However, the cost estimate of SER is pending.
Incidentally, the ongoing ROB over LC-211 in STI area, which is being constructed at a cost of `46.5 crore was supposed to be completed by November, 2017. But only 56 per cent work has been completed and the contract firm has sought an extension of one year. Similarly, the under-construction ROB over LC-212 in ITI area, which is being taken up at a cost of `43.42 crore, was scheduled to be completed in May, 2017. But with only 42 per cent of work done, the construction company has sought time till August, 2018.
Newly-appointed Executive Engineer of R&B, Rourkela BK Pati said more thrust is being given to complete the ROBs in STI and ITI areas at the earliest. The new ROB projects will be taken up immediately after administrative clearances, he added.