
Bridges to Replace Railway Gates Across Nation
The central government has announced a plan to abolish railway gates in the entire country by 2027. This would benefit in preventing accidents, as well as lessen traffic congestion. Officials have started the survey at railway gate locations to test the viability of road underpasses (RUB) and road overpasses (ROB). Discussions with local authorities on land acquisition and construction plans are underway. In the Vijayawada division, 390 railway gates exist between Gudur and Anakapalle, of which inspection has already been done for around 100 of them.
Budgetary Provision for Bridge Construction
The government allocated ₹2,400 crore in the last budget for constructing bridges along the Chennai-Gudur-Anakapalle railway route. Additional funding is expected in the upcoming budget. The type of bridge will be determined based on local conditions, traffic volume, and land availability. At least two-lane bridges are planned, requiring necessary land acquisition.
Inspection of Key Railway Crossings
A team of railway officials, headed by SSE S. Srinivas from Vijayawada, recently visited railway gates at Akiveedu, Undi, Bhimavaram, Palakollu, and other places in West Godavari district to assess the feasibility of construction and expedite the shift from level crossings to bridges.