Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated nine rail infrastructure projects worth approximately ₹484 crore, reinforcing the state’s efforts to enhance railway safety, improve connectivity and eliminate level crossings through grade-separated infrastructure. The projects have been developed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MahaRail/MRIDC) across multiple districts in the state.
The newly commissioned projects comprise four Road Over Bridges (ROBs), four road underpasses/subways and one Road Under Bridge (RUB), located across Nagpur, Wardha, Gondia, Chandrapur, Amravati and Bhandara districts. Seven of these projects were executed under the 50:50 cost-sharing model between the Ministry of Railways and the Government of Maharashtra, while the remaining two projects in Nagpur were funded through the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
The infrastructure works are aimed at replacing manned and unmanned railway level crossings with safer, uninterrupted road connectivity. The projects are expected to reduce traffic congestion, improve travel time, enhance road safety and facilitate the smooth movement of both rail and road traffic across the affected regions. They also form part of Maharashtra’s broader objective of becoming a “railway gate-free” state through systematic elimination of level crossings.
Speaking on the occasion, the leaders highlighted the importance of modern rail-road infrastructure in supporting economic growth, industrial development and logistics efficiency. They noted that investments in ROBs, subways and allied transport infrastructure not only improve commuter convenience but also contribute to safer transportation networks by reducing the risk of accidents at railway crossings.
The inauguration marks another milestone in Maharashtra’s ongoing infrastructure expansion programme, with MahaRail continuing to implement projects designed to strengthen multimodal connectivity across the state. The corporation has been undertaking several rail infrastructure initiatives in partnership with Indian Railways and the state government to improve transportation efficiency and support long-term regional development.