Bangalore Development Authority Commissioner Major Manivannan P stated that this work is “a complex and interesting engineering process”.
Published Dec 12, 2025 | 10:03 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 12, 2025 | 10:03 AM
The railway underpass is being built in Challaghatta to link Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout with Mysore Road.
Synopsis: The Bangalore Development Authority is employing the ‘box-pushing’ technique to build a railway underpass to link Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout with Mysore Road. Bangalore Development Authority Commissioner Major Manivannan P stated that this work is “a complex and interesting engineering process”.
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is employing the ‘box-pushing’ technique to build a railway underpass in Challaghatta to link Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout with Mysore Road.
In a post on X on 9 December 9, the civic authority said that the project reached a major milestone.
“The railway underpass being built using a box-pushing technique to link Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout with Mysore Road has successfully reached a major milestone. The jack-assisted box-pushing operation was executed on a trial basis two days ago, and on December 8, 2025, we pushed the box 1.7-metre into position. The pushing work on one side is expected to be completed within the next three weeks,” it said.
BDA Commissioner Major Manivannan P stated that this work is “a complex and interesting engineering process”.
In his X post, he detailed that it is an 8-lane road of the BDA crossing a railway track underground at Challaghatta. He explained how exactly this work is being done.
1. A section of the railway line, where the road intersects it, is cut, which is equal to the width of the 8-lane road (4 lane width at a time). Once cut, it is removed by a huge crane and the ballast and soil under it are cleared. Then, a new temporary railway track mounted on a huge girder is lifted is placed there. The first pic clearly shows the cut sections of the Railway line.
2. As the railway line is mounted on the girder, the bottom of the track is fully cleared, and the gap is available for the huge concrete boxes to be pushed beneath. The boxes act as the bridge, and the road is laid inside the boxes. The boxes can be seen in the first pic. (4 of them).
3. The pushing of the 4 concrete boxes, each weighing more than 1000 tons, is done by huge hydraulic jacks (bottom right pic), achieving one meter a day, thus taking around 30 days to be pushed under the railway tracks. During these 30 days, the trains will go slowly over the temporary track on the girders, not exceeding 20 kmph, even if it’s Vande Bharat!
4. Once all 4 boxes are pushed underneath the railway tracks, the temporary railway tracks are lifted and removed. The soil and ballast are filled. The original tracks are put back using the cranes and welded firmly. The railway line is ready to bear the huge burden of the high-speed trains again!
5. The road is laid inside the concrete boxes, and it’s ready to take the traffic! Mind you, only 4 lanes are ready. For the other 4 lanes, the same process is repeated, taking another 30 days.
A complex and interesting engineering process!
This is about making an 8-lane road of @BDAOfficialGok to cross the Railway tracks underneath at Challaghatta. (The Bengaluru-Mysore Railway Line)
How is it done?
1. A section of the railway line, where the road intersects it, is… https://t.co/MpsL0YooKh
— Manivannan P 🇮🇳 (@Captain_Mani72) December 9, 2025
Manvannan said making the road and railway crossing took between 60 and 90 days.
“The process involves huge machinery like 750-ton cranes, huge girders, etc. The work has to be done ONLY at night, when the train traffic will be less. This time, the work happened from 11 pm in the night to 4 am,” he said.
He added that if everything went well, proper coordination between various departments involved in this work, the project would be completed and opened for the public in three months.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
