Section 19 of RA, 1989 : Section 19: Overbridges And Underbridges

Explanation using Example

Imagine a small town where a railway line crosses Main Street at the same level. Recently, there have been several near-misses between vehicles and trains, prompting concern among residents about the safety of the crossing. The local council, responsible for maintaining Main Street, decides that action is needed to prevent a potential tragedy.

The council approaches the railway administration and requests that a bridge be constructed to carry Main Street over the railway tracks. They argue that this would significantly reduce the risk to the public by eliminating the level crossing. The railway administration reviews the request and agrees that a bridge would improve safety. However, they require the council to cover the costs of building and maintaining the bridge.

After some negotiation, the council agrees to pay 70% of the construction costs, believing that the safety benefits justify the expenditure. The railway administration and the council draft a formal agreement outlining the financial responsibilities and the project's timeline.

However, if the railway administration and the local council had been unable to agree on the cost-sharing arrangement, they could have referred the matter to the Central Government for a binding decision.