The long-pending proposal to construct a Rail Over Bridge (ROB) on the Malihabad-Mal road in Lucknow has finally received government approval, paving the way for the project to move forward. Construction preparations are underway, with work expected to begin in March 2026.
Earlier, a joint team of the Setu Nigam (Bridge Corporation), Public Works Department (PWD), and the Railways conducted a detailed survey and prepared the project blueprint. Officials said the final design of the ROB, to be built over the railway crossing, will be approved soon.
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The proposed two-lane ROB, estimated to cost Rs 126.77 crore, will be more than one kilometre long and is expected to provide relief to over four lakh people. The project has also received clearance from the Expenditure Finance Committee. In the future, the Setu Nigam may also take up the construction of the Railways’ portion of the bridge.
The demand for the ROB had been repeatedly raised by Samajwadi Party MP from Mohanlalganj, RK Chaudhary and BJP MLA from Malihabad Jai Devi.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion, particularly benefiting vehicles heading towards the international mango market of Malihabad. The ROB will ensure smoother movement of mango consignments from the capital to other states and international destinations, especially during the peak mango season.
According to officials, the blueprint for the ROB between Northern Railway’s Malihabad and Dilawar Nagar stations is ready, with only the final design approval pending. The project is targeted for completion by December 2028.
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Local mango traders Mohammad Rauf and Balbir Yadav said that the frequent closure of the railway crossing during the mango season leads to massive traffic jams. The number of trucks, small commercial vehicles, and local traffic increases several-fold, often resulting in delays of up to 30 minutes for vehicles stuck at the crossing. They said the ROB would permanently resolve this problem.
The ROB is expected to bring major relief to residents of Mal, Intauja, Sandila, Dhakwa, Sarawa, Sendharwa, Kasmand Khurd, Rampur Basti, Bhujasa, Rasulpur, Ajgain, Malihabad, and surrounding areas, who currently depend on the busy railway crossing for daily travel.