Jamshedpur, Jan 31: The much-awaited Jugsalai road overbridge was opened for commuters after its formal inauguration by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. He said that the state road construction department (RCD) and the railway have fulfilled the long-pending demand of the residents of Jugsalai.
He noted that the construction work of roads and bridges is going on at a fast pace in the entire state. Strengthening and widening of roads are taking place all over. In the coming days, many new constructions will be seen regarding the traffic system. Our effort is to provide better facilities for people to travel.
The Chief Minister said that due to the proximity of Tatanagar railway station, there was a need to close the railway gate again and again. Due to this, there was always a situation of jams here and there was also a danger of accidents. But, with the commencement of Jugsalai Overbridge, the problem of jams is being solved.
The construction of the road over bridge (ROB) and access road between Tata-Adityapur station of Jugsalai started in the financial year 2018-19 and was completed in 2022-23. Its total length is 843 meters. The total administrative approval for this project is Rs 44,04,95,000.
Ministers Champai Soren, Satyanand Bhokta and Banna Gupta, MLA Ghatshila Ram Das Soren, MLA, Ichagarh Savita Mahto, MLA, Baharagora Sameer Mohanty, MLA Potka Sanjeev Sardar, MLA Jugsalai Mangal Kalindi, Chief Minister Secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey, Deputy Commissioner East Singhbhum Vijaya Jadhav, Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar and officials of Railway and Road Construction Department were present.
The residents of the densely-populated Jugsalai and adjoining Bagbera localities had set up Sarbadaliya Sangharsh Samiti (SSS) cutting across party lines. Following repeated agitation by the SSS, the railway in the year 2011 had taken the initiative to construct an overbridge in collaboration with the RCD and decided to set up the railway overbridge for Rs 16 crores. As there were issues for both the railway as well as the RCD, the project was delayed by over a decade and the project cost escalated.
“People, especially those residing in Jugsalai and the adjoining areas will no longer have to face difficulties while commuting to the rest of the steel city,” a local leader said.
About a lakh commuters would face difficulties at the Jugsalai level-crossing due to the congestion caused by the frequent use of drop-gate there because of the dozens of trains that pass through the stretch round the clock. The bridge became operational within a few hours of the inauguration. The railway drop gate has been closed down.