Southern Railway Fully Funds 55 Crucial Overbridges in Kerala

Southern Railway has announced it will fully fund the construction of 55 road overbridges (ROBs) at level crossings across Kerala, stepping in after the state government failed to provide its mandated 50% share of the costs. Normally, the cost of building ROBs is split equally between Indian Railways and state governments.

The delay in Kerala's financial contribution had stalled the execution of these critical infrastructure projects. To prioritize safety and fast-track progress, Southern Railway has decided to waive the state’s share and cover the entire cost. The Kerala Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL) will oversee the construction.

Key ROB locations include busy crossings such as those between Pudukad–Irinjalakuda, Edapally–Ernakulam North, Kappil–Varkala Sivagiri, Vallathol Nagar–Wadakkanchery, and Thalassery–Etakkot, among others.

Out of the 55 ROBs, only 18 have seen progress with finalized plans and land acquisition by the state. These have been re-sanctioned with 100% railway funding, and ₹95 crore has been transferred to the state for land acquisition. KRDCL is expected to complete them within 18 months.

However, work on the remaining 37 ROBs is still stalled due to pending approvals and land acquisition. Additionally, 65 other sanctioned ROBs remain delayed for similar reasons, largely attributed to state-level funding and administrative bottlenecks.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.