Ask anyone who commutes through Jhotwara about the railway level crossings, and you will hear the same word: nightmare. A train passes. The gate comes down. Traffic backs up for half a kilometre. People are late for work. Autorickshaws inch forward in the heat. School buses sit waiting. And then the gate lifts — and the whole thing repeats four, five, six times a day.
This is not a new problem. But it has a new solution — and Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore has been driving it with real urgency since taking charge of Jhotwara in December 2023.
The Plan: Underpass + ROB/RUB — Permanent Infrastructure, Not Patches
On March 2, 2026, Col. Rathore held a comprehensive review meeting with officials from the Municipal Corporation, Jaipur Development Authority (JDA), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The specific instruction on rail-related traffic: fast-track underpass projects and ease congestion on sector roads through permanent infrastructure solutions.
The Viksit Jhotwara portal lists ROB (Road Over Bridge) and RUB (Road Under Bridge) as confirmed development categories in the ₹1,081 crore constituency development plan. These are not proposals. They are active projects under execution.
Why a “Depot Shift” Changes Everything
The “smart depot shift” referred to in this article’s topic connects to a real operational insight: Jhotwara’s traffic problem at railway crossings is not just about the crossings themselves. It is also about where trains slow, stop, and manoeuvre in the station area. When depot operations or shunting movements happen during peak commuting hours, the gate stays down longer. Coordination with North Western Railway to shift certain yard movements to off-peak hours — combined with ROB/RUB construction — reduces the daily impact on road traffic significantly.
Col. Rathore explicitly stated in the March 2 meeting: “roads repeatedly damaged due to poor drainage should only be reconstructed after ensuring a permanent drainage system is in place.” The same principle applies to rail crossings — do not add a patch. Build the underpass. Make it permanent.
Col. Rathore’s confirmed directive — March 2, 2026: “Special emphasis was placed by the minister on fast-tracking underpass projects, easing traffic congestion on sector roads, and implementing corrective measures to manage rising vehicular movement.” All three agencies — MC, JDA, and NHAI — were directed to coordinate strictly and deliver visible results within stipulated timelines.
For the lakhs of Jhotwara residents who cross these intersections daily — on the way to school, to work, to the market — this is the development that will matter most in their daily experience. Not a ribbon-cutting. A level crossing that no longer makes you late. Track project progress on Viksit Jhotwara. For specific road or crossing issues, contact Col. Rathore’s office directly.
