Jaipur: Traffic movement on Jaipur's under-construction Civil Lines rail overbridge (RoB) is expected to begin in early July, according to officials from the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA).
Construction Nearing Completion
A senior JDA engineer confirmed that the construction of the RoB is likely to be completed by June. "Now, it's up to the management to decide on the date of the inauguration and formally allow traffic on the RoB," the engineer told TOI on Wednesday.
The long-delayed Civil Lines rail overbridge is finally nearing completion, offering hope for significant traffic relief in one of Jaipur's busiest stretches. Officials stated that the remaining work focuses on the girder structure to be installed above the railway tracks, a critical phase before the bridge can be opened for public use.
Coordination with Railways
Engineers noted that coordination with North Western Railway (NWR) is already in place for the installation process. Since the work requires temporary restrictions on train movement, JDA has secured the necessary permission and will now communicate the exact schedule. "We have already got permission from NWR and need to inform them of the dates and timings. The effect on train movements will be minimal. It won't take more than three hours a day, for two days, to complete the installation," the engineer added.
Project Background and Delays
The RoB project began in January 2021 and was originally expected to be completed in about 18 months. However, the 700-metre structure linking Jacob Road with Jamnalal Bajaj Marg has taken more than five years, largely due to legal hurdles. According to officials, construction was stalled after a section of property owners on Jamnalal Bajaj Marg moved the High Court, and also due to disputes with the contractual agency.
Political Attention
The delay has drawn political attention. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recently used the project in his social media campaign, 'Intezaar Shastra', targeting the BJP government over pending public works. In one post, he said, "This railway overbridge was planned to eliminate traffic jams and connect Jacob Road to Jamnalal Bajaj Marg. The Civil Lines area was expected to get major relief, but due to the BJP govt's lethargy and political malice, the project has now turned into an accident-prone zone. If this is the condition of development just 100 metres from the Chief Minister's residence, one can imagine the state of the rest of Rajasthan."
