Vijayawada, June 29:In a major boost to rail-road infrastructure, the South Coast Railway (SCoR), Vijayawada Division, on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) in place of Level Crossing Gate No. 316 between Gunadala and Vijayawada stations.Kesineni Sivanath, Member of Parliament from Vijayawada, inaugurated the project in the presence of Bonda Umamaheswararao, MLA, Vijayawada Central, K. Simon, Chief Project Manager, Gati Shakti Unit, P.E. Edwin, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Infrastructure), Vijayawada Division, and other railway officials.Welcoming the gathering, K. Simon explained the technical features of the project and highlighted its importance in improving connectivity and public convenience.Speaking on the occasion, MP Kesineni Sivanath thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railway administration, and the Vijayawada Division for sanctioning the long-pending infrastructure project. He said the ROB would not only ease daily traffic congestion but also play a vital role during major religious events such as the Krishna Pushkaram and the annual Gunadala Mary Matha Festival by facilitating smooth movement of lakhs of pilgrims.MLA Bonda Umamaheswararao appreciated the efforts of the MP in ensuring that the project was taken up on priority.The proposed ROB will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹98.68 crore, fully funded by the Railways. The bridge will have a total length of 920 metres with a 24-metre-wide roadway, including service roads. Once completed, it will provide seamless connectivity between Vijayawada, Gunadala and Nunna while ensuring uninterrupted movement of both road and rail traffic.At present, Level Crossing Gate No. 316 handles nearly 170 train movements every day, resulting in gate closures for 14 to 16 hours daily. Commuters are often forced to wait 10 to 15 minutes to cross the railway line, leading to heavy traffic congestion.Railway officials said the new ROB would eliminate delays caused by prolonged gate closures, improve road safety, reduce travel time, strengthen connectivity, and enhance the efficiency of train operations. The project is also expected to contribute significantly to the region’s socio-economic development by improving urban infrastructure.The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by P.V. Ramana Rao, Deputy Chief Engineer, Gati Shakti Unit, who reiterated the Railways’ commitment to completing the project within the stipulated timeframe.
