In a major infrastructure upgrade for Bihar, the Ministry of Railways has approved the construction of 223 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) across the state to replace existing railway level crossings. The initiative forms part of an ambitious plan to ensure that residents can travel to the state capital, Patna, from any district within three and a half hours.

The decision follows sustained proposals by the Bihar government and was confirmed during a high-level meeting between Mihir Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the Road Construction Department, and senior officials from the Railway Board, including Naveen Gulati, Member (Infrastructure), and Chhatrasal Singh, General Manager of East Central Railway.

During the meeting, officials announced that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 12 ROBs and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) had already been approved. The locations include critical junctions in Saharsa, Chhapra, Sitamarhi, Gaya, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Munger, Aurangabad, and Muzaffarpur districts.

Additionally, DPRs for 48 more ROBs are ready and awaiting clearance from the Railway Ministry next month, while reports are being prepared for another 112 proposed bridges.

Between March and May, the Railways issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for all 223 crossings under the Road Construction Department and for 236 of 259 crossings managed by other departments, such as the Rural Works Department.

Welcoming the Centre’s support, Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen stated, “With the construction of these ROBs, our goal of ensuring travel to Patna within 3 hours and 30 minutes from any district is now within reach. These bridges will not only eliminate delays at crossings but also improve road safety and traffic flow.”

The project is expected to significantly modernise Bihar’s transport infrastructure, reduce congestion, and enhance connectivity across districts.