Balasore: A rail overbridge at Tamulia level crossing, which is facing both time and cost overrun, is expected to become function in March.

Senior officials of the works department set the deadline during a review meeting, where executive engineer Mahesh Mohanty said that 20 of the 38 spans of the bridge had already been completed. "The bridge is running behind schedule due to several reasons including alteration of the original design. The initial estimate of Rs 44 crore has already been spent on the bridge and an additional Rs 9 crore has been allotted," he said.

"While 11 more spans are to be constructed, the approach road construction is on progress," he said.

The foundation stone of the said bridge was laid on February 11, 2014, with an estimated project cost of Rs 44 crore. The bridge was to have been completed in September last year. Both the Centre and the state government are sharing cost of the bridge.

Since the level crossing falls on the main road between Balasore and Bhubaneswar, hundreds of vehicles including passenger and school buses and ambulances remain stranded for long due to train movement. About 60 pairs of trains run on the route. "The bridge has been a longstanding demand of the people of Balasore. This will save a lot of time for commuters and vehicles taking the route," said local resident Parsuram Pradhan.