The Setu Bharatam Yojana (also called Setu Bharatam Pariyojana) is an ambitious infrastructure project launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4th March 2016. The primary aim of this scheme is to make all national highways in India free of railway level crossings by constructing Railway Over Bridges (ROBs) and Railway Under Bridges (RUBs).
With a total budget of around ₹50,000 crore (approx. Rs. 102 billion), the project focuses on improving road safety, reducing travel time, and enhancing connectivity across the country. It involves constructing 208 new bridges and repairing, widening, or replacing 1,500 existing bridges along national highways. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Why was the Setu Bharatam Yojana Launched?
The background of the Setu Bharatam Yojana is rooted in the need to improve road safety and traffic efficiency. Level crossings have been a major cause of road accidents in India due to collisions between vehicles and trains.
The government realized that eliminating level crossings and constructing safer bridges would:
- Ensure uninterrupted traffic flow on highways.
- Reduce road accident fatalities caused by railway crossings.
- Improve travel efficiency by avoiding delays.
- Boost economic activity by improving logistical efficiency.
What are the Objectives of Setu Bharatam Yojana?
The Setu Bharatam Project has multiple objectives:
- Eliminate Railway Level Crossings: Replace all level crossings on national highways with ROBs and RUBs.
- Improve Bridge Infrastructure: Strengthen, widen, or replace weak and narrow bridges on highways.
- Enhance Road Safety: Reduce accidents and fatalities by providing safer travel options.
- Increase Travel Speed: Avoid delays caused by railway crossings to ensure faster transportation.
- Boost Economic Activity: Promote construction, iron and steel industries, and infrastructure development.
- Provide Employment: Create direct and indirect job opportunities during project implementation.
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How is the Setu Bharatam Yojana Being Implemented?
The project was initially scheduled for completion by 2019. Key implementation details include:
| Feature | Details |
| New Bridges (Greenfield Projects) | 208 ROBs/RUBs to be constructed across the country |
| Existing Bridges (Brownfield Projects) | 1,500 bridges to be repaired, widened, or replaced |
| Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS) | Surveys of all national highway bridges conducted using mobile inspection units; around 50,000 bridges inventoried till June 2016 |
| State-Wise Distribution | 19 states benefit. Examples: Andhra Pradesh (33), West Bengal (22), Bihar (20), Karnataka (17), Maharashtra (12) |
Which States Benefit from Setu Bharatam Yojana?
Here is a state-wise list of new bridges under the Setu Bharatam scheme:
| State | Number of ROBs/RUBs |
| Andhra Pradesh | 33 |
| West Bengal | 22 |
| Bihar | 20 |
| Karnataka | 17 |
| Assam | 12 |
| Maharashtra | 12 |
| Jharkhand | 11 |
| Haryana | 10 |
| Punjab | 10 |
| Rajasthan | 9 |
| Tamil Nadu | 9 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 9 |
| Gujarat | 8 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 6 |
| Chhattisgarh | 5 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 5 |
| Kerala | 4 |
| Odisha | 4 |
| Uttarakhand | 2 |
What are the Highlights of Setu Bharatam Yojana?
Some of the major highlights of the project include:
- Launch Date: 4th March 2016
- Launched By: PM Narendra Modi
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
- Total Budget: ₹50,000 crore
- Target Completion: 2019 (extended for some bridges)
- New Bridges: 208 (Greenfield)
- Existing Bridges to be Rehabilitated: 1,500 (Brownfield)
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What is the Significance of Setu Bharatam Yojana?
The Setu Bharatam Project is significant for several reasons:
- Road Safety: Eliminates dangerous railway crossings, reducing fatalities.
- Economic Growth: Enhances logistical efficiency, promoting trade and transport.
- Infrastructure Development: Boosts industries such as construction, iron, and steel.
- Time and Cost Efficiency: Reduces travel time, fuel consumption, and traffic congestion.
- Employment Generation: Provides jobs during construction and maintenance.
- Ease of Doing Business: Improves India’s ranking in logistics and business indices.
What are the Environmental Concerns Related to the Project?
While the project has enormous benefits, environmental concerns have also emerged:
- Tree Cutting: A petition in the Supreme Court highlighted the loss of around 300 trees in West Bengal due to bridge construction.
- Compensatory Afforestation: To mitigate environmental loss, a compensatory afforestation fund is suggested.
- Heritage Trees and Ecology: Some trees provide invaluable ecological services and must be preserved or compensated.
What is the Difference Between Greenfield and Brownfield Projects in Setu Bharatam?
Greenfield and Brownfield Projects in the context of infrastructure development refer to two different approaches. Greenfield projects are constructed entirely from scratch, meaning new infrastructure is built where none existed before, such as new bridges on highways.
On the other hand, Brownfield projects involve upgrading, repairing, or widening existing infrastructure. This includes activities like repairing old bridges, adding extra lanes to highways, or enhancing the capacity of existing facilities. Together, these approaches ensure both the expansion of new infrastructure and the modernization of older structures.
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How has the Setu Bharatam Yojana Impacted Road Infrastructure in India?
The details on how the Setu Bharatam Yojana impacted road infrastructure in India are as follows:
- Improved Safety: Reduced accidents and fatalities at railway crossings.
- Enhanced Connectivity: Faster, uninterrupted travel on national highways.
- Boosted Construction Sector: Increased demand for construction and steel industries.
- Economic Impact: Better logistics led to cost and time savings in transport.
- Monitoring & Maintenance: IBMS ensures proper maintenance and inspection of bridges.
Key Takeaways
| Key Feature | Details |
| Launch Date | 4th March 2016 |
| Launched By | PM Narendra Modi |
| Implementing Ministry | MoRTH |
| Budget | ₹50,000 crore |
| New Bridges (Greenfield) | 208 |
| Existing Bridges (Brownfield) | 1,500 |
| Target Completion | 2019 (extended for some projects) |
| States Benefited | 19 |
| Main Objectives | Road safety, reduce travel time, enhance logistics |
| Environmental Concerns | Tree cutting, compensatory afforestation |
Questions Based on Setu Bharatam Yojana
- When was Setu Bharatam Yojana launched?
a) 26th Jan 2015
b) 4th March 2016
c) 15th Aug 2016
d) 1st Jan 2017
e) 4th April 2016 - What is the main objective of Setu Bharatam?
a) Build new railways
b) Eliminate railway level crossings
c) Promote tourism
d) Increase road tolls
e) Construct airports - How many new bridges were planned under the project?
a) 500
b) 1,500
c) 208
d) 100
e) 50 - Which ministry implements the Setu Bharatam Project?
a) Ministry of Finance
b) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
c) Ministry of Railways
d) Ministry of Environment
e) Ministry of Urban Development - What is a Greenfield project?
a) Repairing old bridges
b) Constructing new infrastructure from scratch
c) Upgrading highways
d) Building highways using recycled materials
e) Landscaping
Also Read:
- How many states benefit from the project?
a) 10
b) 19
c) 28
d) 15
e) 22 - What was the budget of Setu Bharatam?
a) ₹50,000 crore
b) ₹10,000 crore
c) ₹1 lakh crore
d) ₹25,000 crore
e) ₹5,000 crore - What is IBMS in context of Setu Bharatam?
a) Indian Bank Management System
b) Indian Bridge Management System
c) Indian Building Management Service
d) Indian Budget Monitoring System
e) Indian Business Monitoring System - What environmental concern is associated with the project?
a) Air pollution
b) Water contamination
c) Tree cutting
d) Noise pollution
e) Soil erosion - Which of these states has the highest number of bridges under the scheme?
a) Bihar
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) West Bengal
d) Maharashtra
e) Karnataka
Answer Key:
| Question Number | Correct Answer |
| 1 | b) 4th March 2016 |
| 2 | b) Eliminate railway level crossings |
| 3 | c) 208 |
| 4 | b) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways |
| 5 | b) Constructing new infrastructure from scratch |
| 6 | b) 19 |
| 7 | a) ₹50,000 crore |
| 8 | b) Indian Bridge Management System |
| 9 | c) Tree cutting |
| 10 | b) Andhra Pradesh |
FAQs
The cost is approximated at Rs 50,000 crores.
The scheme was launched in 2016 and ended in 2019.
19 states were the beneficiaries of this scheme.
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