Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, April 27: In a significant development aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety and convenience, the construction work for a foot overbridge (FOB) at Jugsalai railway crossing is scheduled to commence within a week. The order for the FOB construction work, along with the measurement of land near the crossing, was issued to the contractor by the IOW of Sini Railway on Thursday.
The Chakradharpur Division Railway will undertake the construction of a 32-meter-long and three-feet-wide foot overbridge at Jugsalai crossing, with an estimated cost of around Rs 2.25 crore. This initiative will necessitate the removal of dozens of shops operating from nearby huts and kiosks. Originally planned to be 15 meters long, the length of the foot overbridge was increased due to the planned expansion of the railway lines, highlighting the railway’s commitment to infrastructure development.
The construction of the foot overbridge at the railway crossing is expected to provide much-needed convenience to thousands of pedestrians from various settlements, including Jugsalai, Bagbera, Baroda Ghat, Harharguttu, and Ranidih. School students and individuals commuting to Jugsalai for work and business from other areas will also benefit from this infrastructure project.
The initiative to construct the foot overbridge comes after sustained advocacy efforts, with Hindustan Dainik raising the issue of pedestrian safety in April 2023. Following this, Chakradharpur DRM Arun J Rathore initiated action to construct the FOB at Jugsalai crossing. It is anticipated that pedestrians will have access to the foot overbridge within the next 4-5 months.
The demand for a foot overbridge at the Jugsalai crossing dates back to 1973, with public representatives staging protests and various organizations advocating for pedestrian safety. The closure of the crossing after the inauguration of the flyover at Jugsalai led to increased risks for pedestrians, prompting the urgent need for infrastructure improvements. The forthcoming foot overbridge is expected to benefit over two lakh pedestrians and is being eagerly awaited by the local community.