Central Government Designates Competent Authorities for Road Over Bridge Projects in Odisha

The Ministry of Railways (East Coast Railway) issued a significant notification, S.O. 5523(E), on December 1, 2025, to streamline the implementation of special railway projects in the State of Odisha. This delegated legislation, published in the Official Gazette, formally authorized specific officers to act as Competent Authorities for the construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) across various locations. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

The primary objective of this notification is to facilitate the efficient execution of critical railway infrastructure development. It aims to enhance safety and improve traffic flow by replacing manned Level Crossings (LCs) with Road Over Bridges (a bridge that carries a road over a railway line). The Central Government, exercising powers conferred by Clause 7(A) of Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989 (an Act that governs the construction, maintenance, and operation of railways in India), designated various Tahasildars as the Competent Authorities (an official empowered to make decisions or take action in a specific legal context). These Tahasildars, who are administrative heads of sub-districts, are now empowered to perform functions under the Railways Act concerning these specific projects.

The legislation provided: “...the Central Government hereby authorize the officer mentioned in column(2) of the Table below as the Competent Authority to perform the function of such authority under said Act in respect of area of the Special Railway Project mentioned in column(3) of the Table below in the State of Odisha...”

Specifically, the notification lists eighteen distinct projects, all involving the construction of Road Over Bridges in lieu of closing manned Level Crossings (a railway crossing where a gate or barrier is operated by an attendant) along the Khurda Road (KUR) Section. For instance, the Tahasildar of Khallikote was designated as the Competent Authority for multiple projects, including the construction of ROBs at Km 534/21-23, Km 538/19-21, Km 539/33-35, Km 541/27-29, Km 543/29-31, Km 554/7-9, and Km 555/5-7, covering areas between Chilka, Khalikote, Rambha, and Humma. Similarly, the Tahasildars of Ganjam, Chatrapur, Kukudakhandi, Konisi, and Chikiti were also authorized for various ROB projects within their respective jurisdictions, spanning locations such as Rambha, Humma, Ganjam, Chhatrapur, Jagannathpur, Berhampur, Golanthra, Surla Road, and Ichchapuram. These designations affect the local administration and the public in the specified areas of Odisha by ensuring localized oversight for these infrastructure works.

The policy rationale behind this authorization is rooted in the government's commitment to modernizing railway infrastructure and ensuring public safety. The earlier legal position, governed by the Railways Act, 1989, provided the overarching framework, but specific local designations were required to operationalize projects effectively. This notification addresses the practical need for localized administrative oversight, ensuring that land acquisition, coordination, and other statutory functions related to these projects can be carried out efficiently by designated local officials. By replacing manned Level Crossings with Road Over Bridges, the government aims to eliminate potential points of collision between road and rail traffic, thereby significantly reducing accidents and improving the overall efficiency of both road and rail networks. This move also contributes to decongesting traffic at busy railway crossings, leading to smoother commutes for the public. The notification does not introduce new rights or obligations in the broader sense but rather assigns specific statutory duties to named officials for defined infrastructure projects.

Keywords: Railways Act 1989, Road Over Bridge, Level Crossing, Odisha, Ministry of Railways, Competent Authority, railway infrastructure, railway safety, East Coast Railway, notification, Ganjam district
Geo Tags: India, Odisha
District: Ganjam