Belagavi city is set to witness the long-awaited construction of a Railway Overbridge (RoB) at the second railway gate (Level Crossing 382) in Tilakwadi, with tenders expected to be invited soon and work likely to commence in early April, MP Jagdish Shettar has announced. The project aims to reduce severe traffic congestion at one of Belagavi’s busiest railway crossings.
This approval comes as part of a series of RoB projects in the city, including those at Kapileshwar, Old PB Road, Gogte Circle, and the partially completed Third Gate RoB. However, the planned flyover at Tanaji Galli has been cancelled, with the level crossing there set to close on March 10th.
Concerns Over First and Second Gate RoBs
While the second gate RoB is welcomed, concerns are being raised about the feasibility of the proposed RoB at the first gate (Level Crossing 383) and the second gate itself. The Third Gate RoB remains incomplete, with only one side functional, and no progress on the remaining section. Given this, residents are sceptical about how the new projects will pan out.
A major issue is the lack of connecting ramps for the RoB. Commuters from Congress Road, for example, may not be able to use the new bridge unless separate ramps are built. Typically, railway authorities construct only the main bridge over the tracks, without additional connectivity infrastructure. Without proper urban planning, this could lead to chaos, making the bridge impractical for many residents.
Risk of Poor Planning and Congestion
Urban planners and residents warn that the proximity of buildings near the first and second gates presents a significant challenge. A standard bridge structure, without considering the surrounding layout, could turn into another fiasco, similar to the Third Gate RoB, which continues to face accessibility and congestion issues.
Replicating the same approach as other RoBs in Belagavi will not be effective here. The dense construction around these level crossings demands a well-thought-out design to prevent traffic disruptions and safety hazards.
While the second gate RoB is a crucial step, the city must ensure a carefully planned solution for the first gate. Without a comprehensive strategy, Belagavi risks yet another infrastructure blunder that could worsen traffic woes instead of resolving them.
RoB on second gate is welcome. But it is wide to complete thrid gate RoB and then take up new one. We emphasise new project might encounter same sort of challenges as third gate.
In the name of development, some really short sighted solutions are being imposed upon it’s hapless citizens by the elected representatives, and the “Yes Sir” singing bureaucracy of our Beautiful, Educational, Industrial, Military Hub, Tier II City. Sabko bas bill se matlab hai.
Plan for two lane only without divider. Let the plan be published for approval from citizens staying near by along side the planned ROB.
Anyway looking at the dense population nearby these gates, constructing ROB may worsen the current situation.
Best option is to manage traffic efficiently without ROB
Elected representatives should be held accountable. But they are more interested into wat come into their account. Such misleading statements without any planning should be avoided. It’s been over 7yrs and the 3rd gar flyover is still incomplete. Mangsla Angadi inaugurated a half done flyover, where were her morals on complition.
Elected representatives should be held accountable. But they are more interested into wat come into their account. Such misleading statements without any planning should be avoided. It’s been over 7yrs and the 3rd gate flyover is still incomplete. Mangala Angadi inaugurated a half done flyover, where were her morals on complition.
I think it is necessary to make alternate arrangements like widen the existing Congress road or, make an alternate route to make travel easier. It would have been smarter to complete the second bridge over third gate before commencing this work since a lot of traffic would prefer to use the road via RPD Circle, rather than Congress road. Its going to be utter mayhem if they don’t.
Why is III gate ROB is incomplete?
It is more than two years one side work is incomplete. What is the issue ??….. It was revealed six months ago that there are some DESIGN issue raised by the state government and that’s why the work has stopped. Or local MLAs MP, Ministers should take up with the concerned authorities on top priority and RESTART the pending work. There’s no point in talking about first gate and second gate ROBs before competition of III rd gate ROB.
Very true
It is necessary to complete the pending work on the Third Gate ROB before taking up the work on Second Gate ROB. This would considerably reduce the traffic on Congress Road and facilitate construction of the ROB on Second Gate.