PM Modi rolls out scheme to make highways free of rail crossings

Setu Bharatam, aimed at building rail over bridges and under bridges, will be built across 19 states

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched one of his government’s most ambitious project, Setu Bharatam, aimed at building rail over bridges (ROBs) and rail under bridges (RUBs) to make all national highways free of railway crossings by 2019.

In the first phase, the government has identified 208 bridges spread across 19 states where it intends to build ROBs and RUBs for seamless connectivity. This will not only help in avoiding, congestion at national highways, but also result in fuel saving as there has been instances where the commuters have to wait for hours.  For the purpose it has earmarked Rs 20, 800 crore for the project.

Under the Setu Bharatam scheme, the road transport and highways ministry will undertake construction of 208 ROBs and RUBs and the project will be awarded in 19 packages.

In addition to this, he also announced that the government will soon start work on 1,500 dilapidated bridges across the nation that date back to the pre-Independence era and lived their life. 

According to ministry officials, these bridges are 50-60 years old. The government has earmarked Rs 30,000 crore for the project which includes rehabilitation, replacement and widening of the bridges.