Jamshedpur: Decades of traffic gridlock at railway level crossings officially ended as Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the Siuri Road and Kumarpur Road Railway Overbridges (ROBs). Executed via video conferencing in the presence of LoP Suvendu Adhikari, the projects remove major bottlenecks on the Grand Trunk Road and the Siuri-Bolpur corridor, promising to slash travel times for students, tourists, and industrial heavy-haulers alike.
Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurated the projects via video conferencing on Saturday. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, was also present on the occasion.
The Siuri ROB, constructed at a cost of about ₹42 crore, replaces the heavily congested 22B/T level crossing, where commuters earlier faced long waiting times. The new bridge is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Siuri and Bolpur, benefiting patients, students, traders, and daily commuters. Improved access to Visva-Bharati University and tourist destinations around Shantiniketan is also expected to boost local trade, including small businesses engaged in traditional food products.
In Paschim Bardhaman, the Kumarpur Road ROB has removed a major bottleneck on the Grand Trunk Road near Asansol. The bridge will facilitate smoother movement of industrial traffic, particularly heavy vehicles transporting coal and steel, while also reducing fuel wastage and the risk of accidents at the former level crossing. It will improve connectivity between suburban areas such as Barachak and the Asansol city centre.
Railway officials said the projects reflect the Centre’s focus on safer, faster, and more efficient transport infrastructure, contributing to regional development and improved quality of life for residents.
