Commuters in Bihar can soon expect a major relief from traffic jams at railway crossings. In a high-level meeting held on Saturday, the Indian Railways formally approved the construction of 83 new Railway Overbridges (ROBs) across the state. This decision comes as part of a larger initiative to eliminate level crossings and improve road safety. The project aims to significantly reduce travel time, supporting the state’s goal to make any district reachable from Patna within 3.5 hours.
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Which districts will get new bridges first?
The primary focus of this initiative is to remove traffic bottlenecks in high-density areas. The project covers a total of 223 locations proposed by the Bihar government last year. While 83 have been approved for the current financial year (2025–26), the planning for the remaining 110 will begin in the next financial year. The Road Construction Department has already issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for these sites to speed up the process.
The initial phase will target districts that face heavy congestion due to frequent train movements. The following areas have been identified as priority zones for immediate construction:
| Priority District | Status |
|---|---|
| Saharsa | Included |
| Chhapra | Included |
| Sitamarhi | Included |
| Gaya | Included |
| Lakhisarai | Included |
| Jamui | Included |
| Munger | Included |
| Aurangabad | Included |
| Muzaffarpur | Included |
How is the project funded and what is the timeline?
A significant update in this project is the funding model. Unlike previous agreements where the cost was shared, the Railways will now fund and execute these 223 ROBs entirely using their own resources. This change removes the financial burden from the Bihar state government. Senior officials, including Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh and ECR General Manager Chhatrasal Singh, have directed teams to prioritize land acquisition and utility shifting. The target is to clear all Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) in phases through 2027.
