Karimnagar ROB delay prolongs commuter woes

Metro India News | KARIMNAGAR

Years after construction began, the Thigalaguttapalli Railway Over Bridge (ROB) in Karimnagar remains incomplete, forcing thousands of commuters to continue battling traffic congestion, long vehicle queues and poor road conditions every day. The delay has turned one of the city's most important infrastructure projects into a major public concern.

The ROB is being constructed near Level Crossing No. 18 adjacent to Karimnagar Railway Station under the Central government's Setu Bharatam programme at a cost of Rs 154 crore. The project is intended to eliminate traffic bottlenecks on the busy Karimnagar-Luxettipet highway, where movement comes to a standstill whenever trains pass through the level crossing.

With construction progressing at a slow pace, potholes, dust and unfinished stretches have made commuting difficult for motorists and nearby residents. The situation worsens during the monsoon as waterlogging and damaged approach roads further disrupt traffic.

In a fresh effort to speed up the project, District Collector Chitra Mishra inspected the construction site and reviewed the progress of the pending works. She directed Roads and Buildings, Railway and contractor officials to remove bottlenecks, accelerate construction and ensure proper traffic management until the bridge is completed.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has also been closely monitoring the project. He instructed officials to fast-track land acquisition, complete service roads and finish all remaining infrastructure works without further delay. He has repeatedly stressed the need to complete the project at the earliest to provide relief to commuters.

Although the Centre sanctioned funds for the ROB, delays in land acquisition, service road construction and drainage works slowed the project considerably. With residents continuing to face daily hardships, the latest inspection has raised hopes that the long-delayed bridge will finally move towards completion.