Rail, road transport ministry sign MoU for speedy clearance of ROB/RUBs

NEW DELHI: An MoU was signed today between the rail and road transport ministry to facilitate speedy clearance of rail over and under bridges (ROB/RUB) along national highway corridors within a period of two months, vastly reducing the time taken for the same.

The MoU would enable single-window clearances with railways having developed a web-based platform for online submission of applications and drawings related to ROBs/RUBs.

Suresh Prabhu, who assumed charge today as the rail minister, and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari were present for the signing of the MoU.

The portal shall enable any authorised representative of the National Highways Authority of India to initiate an ROB proposal from his desk and the portal will offer a choice of drawings and designs.

At the first go itself, the most optimum solution can be selected. It will cut across a lot of design and drawing effort, explained Railway Board Member (Engineering) VK Gupta.

"Today a ROB/RUB proposal takes six months to four-and-a- half years to clear. We are confident that with this portal, it will be reduced to 60 days," he said.

Hailing the initiative, Prabhu said that more of such ideas should be implemented to enable solution of issues which, though small in nature, cause impediments for big projects.

Gadkari said that the ministry is also working towards bringing the state ROBs/RUBs under the ambit of this new web-based system.

"There are about 2,500 ROBs on national highways and the states should also bring their ROBs/RUBs under this programme," Gadkari said.

Delay in clearances of ROBs is one of the factors delaying highway projects along with land acquisition issues and forest and environmental clearances, he added.

Prabhu announced a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh for the employees if they successfully implement the initiative, making it clear that "good work will be rewarded".