SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has not received approval for any new Road Over Bridges (ROBs) or Road Under Bridges (RUBs) in the current financial year, even as the Union Government reiterated that all railway level crossings on National Highways will eventually be replaced with grade-separated structures to ease congestion and improve safety.
According to details placed before the Lok Sabha by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Jammu and Kashmir saw approval of one new ROB in 2023–24 and four in 2022–23. The Union territory also received sanction for two RUBs in 2022–23. However, both categories show zero approvals for 2024–25 and the ongoing 2025–26 financial year.
The ministry stated that Government policy mandates replacing all railway level crossings on National Highways with ROBs or RUBs, a task formalised under the Setu Bharatam Scheme launched in 2016. The aim, according to the reply, is to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce waiting time for commuters, and curb accidents caused by unmanned or busy crossings.
On the broader national picture, the Government informed the House that approvals for new ROBs and RUBs vary across States. Uttar Pradesh received the highest number of sanctioned ROBs over the past four financial years, while several North Eastern States reported no new approvals. Maharashtra secured six new ROBs in the current year and two RUBs, whereas States such as Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Sikkim recorded no sanctioned structures across all years listed.
The Centre also noted that feasibility studies conducted before approving such projects assess factors including fuel wastage, pollution levels and economic losses caused by persistent congestion at level crossings. The Government said that once built, ROBs and RUBs provide seamless traffic flow and ensure that emergency services such as ambulances and fire tenders are not delayed at busy intersections.
