Major milestone for East Coast Railway: 35-ton steel girders installed in Bhubaneswar in just 3 hours.
The Road over Bridge (ROB) project aims to replace a congested level crossing between Bhubaneswar and Mancheswar Stations. The construction was meticulously planned, involving coordination with the Khurda Road Division. Completion is expected by December 2024.
Arpit Pattnaik
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) achieved a remarkable engineering feat by successfully launching five 36-meter-long, 35-ton steel girders within three hours on Saturday. These girders were installed as part of a Road over Bridge (ROB) project at VSS Nagar, situated between Bhubaneswar and Mancheswar Railway Stations.
The Construction Wing of ECoR, in collaboration with the Khurda Road Division, executed this complex task under a meticulously planned 3-hour traffic and Overhead Equipment (OHE) block. This challenging operation, carried out in a busy railway line, specifically in the Howrah-Chennai Main Line, required meticulous planning and coordination. Despite multiple logistical challenges, the Chief Project Manager (CPM) and his team in Bhubaneswar managed to complete the task, setting a benchmark in project execution.
The successful launching of these 36-meter-long girders marks a significant milestone in the ROB construction, replacing a highly congested level crossing with a Train Vehicle Unit (TVU) count of 2 lakh, recorded during the last census.
The ROB at VSS Nagar aims to replace the Special Class Level Crossing between Bhubaneswar and Mancheswar Stations, which has long been a bottleneck for both road and rail traffic. Once completed, it will significantly improve the traffic flow in areas like Mancheswar Industrial Estate, Chakesiani, VSS Nagar, Sainik School, Gadakana, and Chandrasekharpur in Bhubaneswar.
While the girders have been successfully placed on the piers in the railway portion, the remaining construction work in the railway portion, including deck slab installations, crash barriers, and approach junctions, is expected to be completed by December 2024. The state government is also on track to finish the road approach girders within the same time frame.
The completion of this ROB will be a significant boon for the region, providing much-needed relief to commuters and eliminating the busy level crossing that has long been a safety concern. Additionally, the project will ease train operations in this congested Railway Section, aligning with Indian Railways' mission to enhance both road and rail safety.
This ROB project is being constructed in place of Level Crossing No. ML 186 and has seen an investment of ₹48.2 crore in the railway portion alone. Several critical works, including the relocation of electrical transformers and underground cables, were completed earlier to facilitate the progress of this mega project.
Once commissioned, this ROB will not only improve road safety but also enhance the operational efficiency of train services in one of the busiest sections of the Indian Railways network, in line with the Railways' commitment to ensuring fast, safe, and reliable journeys.
