Indian Railways has approved a ₹166.5 crore project for construction of a four-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Alkapuri in Vadodara Division of Western Railway, aimed at improving road connectivity and addressing traffic congestion in the area.
The project will be implemented on a cost-sharing basis with the State Government, with both sides contributing equally. Indian Railways will bear approximately ₹83.2769 crore, while the State Government will contribute an equivalent amount.
Four-lane facility to address limitations of existing RUB
The proposed ROB will augment the existing road connectivity between Alkapuri and Kalaghoda areas of Vadodara city.
The existing Alkapuri Road Under Bridge (RUB) near Vadodara Railway Station is an important east-west road link. However, its vertical clearance is only about 3 metres, restricting the movement of larger vehicles.
The RUB also experiences waterlogging during the monsoon, creating recurring difficulties for commuters and contributing to traffic congestion and operational challenges.
The new four-lane grade-separated road facility is intended to address these limitations and improve the capacity and functionality of the road crossing.
Improved access to railway and bus stations
The proposed ROB will provide an improved crossing facility while allowing railway operations to continue without disruption.
It will also strengthen road connectivity to Vadodara Railway Station, the GSRTC Bus Station and the upcoming High-Speed Rail (Bullet Train) Station.
Project aimed at meeting growing traffic demand
Traffic assessment in the area has recorded peak-hour traffic of more than 1,600 Passenger Car Units (PCU) per hour. The existing road crossing also has multiple traffic conflict points and inadequate pedestrian facilities.
With these constraints, the existing RUB has become inadequate to meet the present and projected traffic requirements of the area.
The four-lane grade-separated facility is therefore expected to provide a more effective crossing arrangement, improve road capacity and strengthen connectivity around Vadodara Railway Station.
The project is aimed at addressing the functional limitations of the existing Alkapuri RUB while improving the overall road connectivity in this important part of Vadodara.
