The Public Works Department (PWD) built 18 Railway over and under bridges in high density traffic areas in the State involving a cost of Rs 300 crore during the past 13 years, officials informed.
PWD Minister Rajesh Munat informed that currently, five key Railway over and under bridges are under construction at a cost of Rs 222 crores in Raipur, Bilaspur and Janjgir-Champa districts.The bridges are coming up at Shankar Nagar, Kashiram Nagar, lal Kadan, Khoksa and Champa.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government in May last year also announced that it will take up construction of 63 long-span bridges under ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’ (PMGSY) in different districts of the State, officials informed.
On the other hand, as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary ‘Setu Bharatam Yojana’, the State Public Work Department (PWD) has initiated efforts for construction of over-bridges and under-bridge at railway crossing across the State for ensuring smooth and accident-free vehicular movement, officials stated.
In the State Budget 2016-17, Chief Minister Raman Singh has included the proposal of as many as five railway over-bridges in ‘Setu Bharatam Yojana’ for reconstruction of railway level-crossings, old and narrow-bridges falling on national highways, informed officials, adding that of five bridges, two over-bridges will be constructed between Manendragarh and Ambikapur, two between Mahasamund and Kharir Road (Odisha) and one railway over-bridge at village Keshloor in Bastar district.
For construction of four railway under-bridges and four railway over-bridges, the Chief Minister has made a financial provision of Rs 13.16 crore from the Department’s general expenditure head in this budget, said PWD Minister Rajesh Munat.
According to Munat, construction of these eight railway bridges will be costing Rs 54.71 crore, of which Rs 36.55 crore would be the estimated expenditure for construction of four over-bridges while Rs 18.16 crore will be required in construction of four under-bridges.
Similarly, the Chief Minister has announced to carry out a survey for construction of over and under-bridges at 41 railway level-crossings on Raigarh-Dongargarh route. The survey work is going to cost Rs 1.05 crore.
Notably, the project aims to make all national highways free from railway level crossing by 2019 to ensure road safety. Under the project, 208 bridges will be built at a cost of Rs 20800 crore. Also, 1500 old bridges will be reconstructed, which will cost Rs 30000 crore.
As many as 29 Road Over Bridges (RoBs) have been sanctioned by the Central government during the current financial year under South East Central Railway (SECR) division.
At present, there are 1,156 sanctioned works for construction of 1,399 ROBs across the country, officials stated.
Fund for construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs)/Road Under Bridges (RUBs)/Subways; elimination of level crossings and other safety works related to level crossings come from Central Road Fund (CRF) as a percentage of cess collected on petrol and diesel by Ministry of Finance. Present throwforward of these works is Rs 31,700 crores approximately.
A provision of Rs 4180.87 crore has been made for South East Central Railway (SECR) in the Union Railway budget to provide a further boost to its development activities.
Notably, addressing media persons last year in Bilaspur, SECR General Manager Satyendra Kumar informed that a series of provisions are being made for the zone in this budget which includes Rs 560.04 crore for new railway line, gauge conversion (Rs 558.91 crore), doubling (Rs 2012.46 crore), traffic facilities works (Rs 75.65 crore), computerisation (Rs 3.66 crore), rolling stock (Rs 5.81 crore), leased assets (Rs 299.48 crore), road safety works-level Crossings (Rs 13.75), road safety works-ROB/RUBs (Rs 124.25 crore), track renewals (Rs 218.24 crore) and bridge works (Rs 14.84 crore).
Besides, Rs 64.90 crore has been allocated for signalling and telecom works, Rs 72.81 crore for other electrical works, Rs 11.27 crore for traction distribution works, Rs 10.72 crore for machinery and plants, Rs 58.23 crore for workshops and PUs, Rs 20.56 crore for staff quarters, Rs 11.13 crore for staff amenities, Rs 33.48 crore for passengers amenities and Rs 10.68 crore for other specified works.
New lines sanctioned for SECR in the budget include 270 km-long Dongargarh-Khairagarh-Kawardha-Bilaspur line to the tune of around Rs 2500 crore and Dharamjaigarh- Korba (63 km) of Rs 1154 crore, informed railway officials.
The State Government has commenced the process for constructing an 'elevated corridor' on the existing Fafadih-Telibandha narrow guage railway track in the city.
The Government has also decided to develop land parcels on the existing Fafadih-Telibandha-Naya Raipur narrow guage railway track, officials informed.
It may be recalled that decks have also been cleared for the construction of a BRTS corridor on the existing Fafadih-Telibandha-Naya Raipur narrow guage railway track, officials informed.
Meanwhile, the well-developed ‘Greater Raipur’ region has also started fast taking shape near Raipur city.
A total of 19 urban centers are being planned in Greater Raipur region which would touch boundary of five municipal corporations, officials informed.
The regions such as Raipur, Naya Raipur, Charoda, Jamul, Kumhari Bhilai-III and Durg will come under ‘Greater Raipur’ region.
Notably, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways also announced in March this year that a new Expressway in the 26.60 kms stretch of Raipur-Durg section of National Highway 53 will be constructed in the State.
Meanwhile, the 'Raipur Smart City Plan' has the component of visual mapping of the city for ease of travel across the city, officials informed.
The other key features of the plans would be — CCTV surveillance, Pedestrian only streets, 100 per cent door to door collection, removing street parking among others.
There are also plans to make Raipur a ‘Visually Aesthetic City’ which would comprise street art, neighbourhood art and rejuvenating dead walls.
The plan also has the component of e-Rickshaw zones.