ROB/RUB

Q.1 What are the pre-requisites for planning & construction of an ROB?
Ans. (i) Traffic survey to assess configuration of the ROB i.e. 2 Lane, 4 Lane or 6 Lane.
(ii) Survey of utilities coming in the way of construction
(iii)Soil testing report to decide the type of foundation.
(iv)Span configuration to utilize the railway land optimally for laying of future tracks.
(v) Survey of structures in the approach to decide via duct spans.
Q.2 What is the minimum prescribed grade for the approaches of ROB?
Ans. It should not be steeper than 1 in 20. Depending upon the nature of the traffic, it
should be kept easiest possible so that vehicles can climb with ease. Cost economy
must also be kept in mind, while deciding the grade.
Q.3 Is it mandatory to keep provision of LHS along with construction of ROB?
Ans. Whenever an existing level crossing is planned to eliminate by ROB, LHS should
generally be planned to mitigate the needs of local traffic.
Q.4 What minimum clearances should be kept in railway portion, while planning ROB?
Ans. No pier or abutment should be constructed at less than 2.36 m from the centre of
the nearest track, extra clearance must be kept in case the track is laid on a curve.
Minimum required vertical clearance above rail level is 5.87 m, however, this may
be increased suitable depending upon the traction and types of coaches/ wagons
moving in the section. Adequate allowance for future raising of track may also be
kept in mind for deciding the clearance at the time of construction of the ROB.
Q.5 Which type of foundation should be adopted for construction of ROB?
Ans. If ground conditions permit i.e. adequate SBC is available then we should go for
open footing but in case it is not feasible/ possible from economy point of
consideration, pile foundations should be adopted.

Generally, pile foundation is adopted for ROB because of the heavy design loads.
Q.6 At what load, initial pile load test is conducted?
Ans. As per IS:2911 (Part-4), initial pile load test must be conducted at a load equal to
2.5 times the safe carrying capacity of the pile.
Q.7 At what load, working pile load test is conducted?
Ans. As per IS:2911 (Part-4), working pile load test must be conducted at a load equal to
1.5 times the safe carrying capacity of the pile.
Q.8 At what frequency, the working pile load test must be conducted?
Ans. Working pile load test is required for ½ % of the total numbers of piles, however,
this may be increased to 2% of the total piles depending upon the nature of the
area and importance of the ROB.
Q.9 What is the safe load in case of single pile?
Ans. As per IS:2911 (Part-4), safe load for single pile shall be least of the followings:
1. 2/3rd of the final load at which total settlement is 12 mm.
2. 50% of the final load at which total settlement equals 10% of the pile
diameter in case of uniform diameter piles and 7.5% of the pile diameter in
case of under-reamed piles.
Q.10 What is the safe load in case of group of piles?
Ans. As per IS:2911 (Part-4), safe load for single pile shall be least of the followings:
1. Total load at which the total settlement attains a value of 25 mm unless
otherwise specified depending upon nature and type of structure.
2. 2/3rd of the final load at which total settlement attains a value of 40 mm.

Q.11 What is the upper limit of settlement in case of routine vertical load test of the piles?
Ans. The settlement should not be more than 12 mm in case of single pile and 25 mm in
case of group of piles.
Q.12 How the safe lateral load on the pile is determined?
Ans. As per IS:2911 (Part-4), Safe lateral load on pile shall be taken as least of the
followings, with displacement measured at cut-off level:
1. 50% of the Final load at which total displacement increases to 12 mm.
2. Final load at which total displacement corresponds to 5 mm.
3. Load corresponding to any other specified displacement required case
specific.
Q.13 What is the criteria for pull-out test of pile?
Ans. As per IS:2911 (Part-4), Depending upon the pull load test, safe load of the pile can
be taken as least of the followings:
1. 2/3rd of the load at which the displacement is 12 mm or the load
corresponding to a specific uplift in specific case.
2. Half of the load at which load-displacement curve shows a downward trend.
Q.14 What presumption is taken for design of the pile cap?
Ans. As per IS:2911 (Part-4), It is presumed that the load from the column is dispersed
from the base of column or pedestal at 45º from top of the cap to the mid depth of
the pile cap.

Similarly, reaction from the pile is also presumed to be distributed at 45º from the
edge of the pile up to mid depth of the pile cap.
Q.15 How the sides of the bore holes for the piles are stabilized?
Ans. Bentonite suspension is utilized for the purpose.
In case of granular soils, the suspension penetrates into sides under positive
pressure and after a while forms a jelly. Thus, it gives plastering effect to the sides
of the bore hole.

In case of impervious clay, the suspension doesn’t penetrate into the soil but
deposit as thin layer on the surface of the sides of the hole. In this case stability is
derived from the hydrostatic head of the suspension.
Q.16 Which type of superstructure is permitted for ROB in railway portion?
Ans. Only composite girders are permitted for Railway spans.
Q.17 What are the pre-requisites for launching of girders in railway spans?
Ans. Followings should be ensured before launching of girders on railway spans:
1. Approval of the launching scheme by railways and approval of CRS.
2. Availability of adequate traffic block.
3. Availability of adequate power block.
4. Availability of minimum three cranes of adequate lifting capacity in working
condition, two shall be working crane and the third one shall remain as
stand bye.
5. Making temporary way to move across the track during launching process.
Q.18 How the capacity of the cranes is adjudged?
Ans. Well before the launching, the site should be critically inspected to see where the
cranes are possible to be positioned. Depending upon the position of the crane
working radius of the cranes shall be determined and then as per the load-radius
chart issued by the manufacturer of the crane, its lifting capacity shall be
adjudged.
Q.19 What precaution should be taken, while launching the girders of railway spans?
Ans. The girders should be lifted at both the ends in such a manner that over hang part
is the bare minimum. It shall avoid unnecessary sway of the girder. After placement
of the girder on the pedestal and till such time it is properly rested on the bearings,
it should be secured to avoid overturning or tilting.
Safety of running trains as well as workmen is utmost necessary.
Q.20 What precautions should be taken while casting the deck slab?
Ans. The shuttering should be well designed and got approved from the railways.
Adequate safety margin above OHE should be kept to avoid electrocution.
Suitable speed restriction must be imposed during casting of the deck slab.
Q.21 How the load testing of Spans of the ROB is done?
Ans. It is done as per the instructions contained in IRC- SP-51.
Q.21 What is the steepest gradient permitted in Road Under Bridges?
Ans. Generally, the gradient should not be steeper than 1 in 20, however, in case of
class-IV roads, as defined in Indian Railway Permanent Way Manual, it can be
provided up to 1 in 15, if there is space constraint.
Q.22 What are the methods available for construction of Road Under Bridges?
Ans. There are three methods available:
1. Cut and cover method using pre-cast segments of the RCC Boxes.
2. By providing service girder and then pushing pre cast box segments or cast
in situ construction.
3. By Box pushing method.
First method is used only on unimportant lines having low railway traffic density and
soils of better stability are there.
Q.23 What additional precaution should be taken, while going for construction of
RUB/LHS below ground level?
Ans. Ground water survey must be undertaken to see that water table is well below the
construction level of the RUB/LHS.

Proper drainage arrangements must be planned before undertaking the work so

that situation of waterlogging is avoided. Wherever natural drainage is not feasible,
water harvesting arrangements or artificial water bodies must be created to drain
out the rain water.

Retaining walls in the approaches must be designed without provision of weep

holes.

Suitable hump should be provided at the entry point on both approaches to avoid
ingress of water.

In heavy rainfall area having drainage constraints, covering of approaches shall be

planned.
Q.24 How do we protect the under-bridge/limited height subway against the over
dimensioned consignments?
Ans. Height gauge as per RDSO approved design shall be erected at both approach
entry points to ensure that no over dimensioned consignment is allowed to pass
through the RUB/LHS.
Q.25 Whether any protective measure need to be provided for safeguard of pier or
abutment of the ROB against any damage due to derailed vehicles?
Ans. Yes, guard rails need to be provided in railway track under and in the approaches of
ROB.