Bhopal bridge with 90-degree turn stumps people, officials defend design

India Today

12-06-2025

A newly constructed railway overbridge (RoB) near Aishbagh Stadium in the capital city of Madhya Pradesh has become the center of controversy even before its official inauguration. The 648-meter-long and 8.5-meter-wide bridge, built at a cost of Rs18 crore, features a sharp 90-degree turn that has raised alarm among local residents and social media users, who fear it could become a hotspot for accidents.advertisementAimed at easing traffic congestion and eliminating long waits at the Aishbagh railway crossing, the RoB is intended to facilitate movement between Mahamai Ka Bagh, Pushpa Nagar, the station area, and New Bhopal.According to the state government, the bridge construction, which began in March 2023, will benefit nearly three lakh people daily by reducing commute times and traffic bottlenecks.
However, its peculiar design has sparked a wave of criticism. The tight 90-degree turn at one end of the bridge is being widely debated online, with many questioning the logic behind such an engineering choice.On social media platform X, Manish Chaudhary commented, 'This is Bhopal's Aishbagh Rail Overbridge — which PWD took 10 years to complete, as if it's some kind of 'engineering miracle'. When power is in the hands of corrupt governments, when plans are made by incompetent planners who are confined to books, and when engineers earn degrees not by merit but by donation, you get disasters instead of bridges. The 90-degree turn is an invitation for accidents.'
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Another user, Mukesh, wrote, 'Death will arrive at a 90-degree angle. This is the angle of development that has emerged in the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. Rs 18 crore has been spent on the bridge.'Officials involved in the project, however, have defended the design, citing logistical constraints. Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (Bridge Department), VD Verma, explained to the news agency PTI, 'Due to the metro station, there is limited availability of land at the point. Due to the lack of land, there was no other option. The purpose of the RoB is to connect the two colonies."He also noted that only small vehicles will be permitted to use the overbridge, and that operations will follow safety protocols and vehicle speed regulations as per the Indian Road Congress. 'It will be operated with full safety,' he added.PWD Minister Rakesh Singh, when asked about the issue, remarked, 'After a bridge is built, experts suddenly appear and say such things. A lot of technical aspects are taken into consideration while building any bridge. If this is an allegation, it will be investigated.'The RoB was long demanded after the closure of the Aishbagh railway crossing, which had caused considerable inconvenience to daily commuters.With PTI inputs
IN THIS STORY#Bhopal#Madhya Pradesh