The Ministry of Railways has laid the foundation stone for a four-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) between Guntur and Nambur railway stations in Andhra Pradesh. The project, estimated to cost ₹108 crore and entirely funded by the Railways, will remove a level crossing gate that currently interrupts traffic flow in Guntur city. The bridge is part of a broader modernisation effort to enhance safety and connectivity across Andhra Pradesh’s rail network.
The foundation stone was laid by Shri V. Somanna, Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, and Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications.
Key facts
- Cost: ₹108 crore, fully funded by the Ministry of Railways
- Length: 668 metres
- Lanes: Four lanes
- Land requirement: 2.9 acres
- Location: Guntur-Nambur line, Guntur-Krishna Canal section, near Inner Ring Road of Guntur city
- Road connections: Bus Stand Road to Gorantla Village
- Replaces: Level Crossing Gate No. 3
- Construction status: To commence shortly after foundation stone laying
What the bridge will do
The four-lane Road Over Bridge will pass over the railway tracks, eliminating the need for a level crossing gate at this location. Currently, Level Crossing Gate No. 3 stops vehicular traffic whenever a train passes, creating congestion and delays on roads connecting the Bus Stand and Gorantla Village through Guntur’s Inner Ring Road.
By removing this interruption, the bridge will allow continuous traffic flow without waiting for trains to pass. This is expected to reduce travel time for commuters, lower fuel consumption from vehicles idling at the crossing, and improve the overall movement of traffic in Guntur city.
Connection to railway safety goals
The project aligns with the Railways’ broader safety and modernisation programme. Level crossing gates are points of potential collision between road vehicles and trains. Eliminating these crossings through grade separation structures like Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) reduces accidents and allows trains to maintain better punctuality without slowing down for gate operations.
As stated by the Union Minister of State for Railways, the elimination of level crossing gates is part of the strategy to achieve zero accidents and improved operational efficiency across the Indian Railways network.
Wider modernisation in Andhra Pradesh
This bridge project is one element of a larger capital investment in Andhra Pradesh’s rail infrastructure. The Railways are modernising 74 railway stations across the state with world-class amenities at an investment of ₹3,500 crore. These initiatives are intended to enhance passenger experience, improve safety standards, and support regional economic development.
Location and connectivity
The bridge will be situated near Guntur city’s Inner Ring Road and will directly connect Bus Stand Road with Gorantla Village. This positioning makes it a key link for urban mobility within and around Guntur, one of Andhra Pradesh’s significant cities. The project addresses what officials describe as a long-standing traffic bottleneck in the region.
What this means for you
If you live or work in Guntur or travel through the Bus Stand Road-Gorantla Village corridor, the bridge will reduce your commute time once construction is complete. Vehicles will no longer need to wait for level crossing gates to open, reducing fuel costs and environmental impact from idle engines. The safer grade-separated crossing also means lower risk of accidents at this intersection.
The project contributes to broader improvements in Guntur’s transport infrastructure, which may attract business investment and improve quality of life in the city. For train passengers, better-flowing road traffic around the railway lines helps trains maintain schedules more reliably.
What happens next
Construction work is scheduled to commence shortly after the foundation stone ceremony. The project will require 2.9 acres of land in the Guntur-Nambur section. The Railways will oversee the project’s execution and timeline, though no specific completion date has been announced in this statement.