Indian Railways to make more overbridges to deal with waterlogging problem

The Indian Railways is making efforts to make more overbridges rather than roads under bridges (RUBs) as problems like waterlogging are a common phenomenon in underground projects, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The minister said that as far as possible, railways are converting RUBs into overbridges even though the cost of an overbridge is much higher.

Railways’ effort is to make overbridges rather than RUBs as waterlogging is a common phenomenon, especially in remote areas, he said during Question Hour.

The minister said the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) under the Ministry of Railways has studied the issue in detail to minimize the problem of waterlogging in RUBs and Limited Height Subways (LHS) and suggested remedial measures.

Accordingly, comprehensive guidelines have been issued in April 2020, which include adequate drainage arrangement, in the planning of new RUBs subways, he said.