Latest news with #AbhinavBarolia
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bhopal road caves in, leaves 10 ft-deep pit
Bhopal: On a day when the state capital Bhopal was ranked as the second cleanest big city in India at the Swacch Survekshan- 2025, a portion of a busy road caved in following heavy rainfall on Thursdday. MP Nagar that witnesses one of the heaviest traffic densities and connects New Bhopal and BHEL township and parts of Old City caved in leaving a pit approximately 8-10 feet wide. Luckily no pedestrians or vehicles were on the spot at the time. The damaged section is part of the main road connecting the Board Office to MP Nagar Zone-I. After the incident, traffic was disrupted, and congestion built up in nearby areas. Officials reached the site and directed that the area be barricaded. They stated that the collapse likely occurred due to soil erosion caused by an old underground drain. The road was originally under the Capital Project Administration and has been maintained by PWD Division No. 2 since 2002. Repair work began later in the day. Traffic police were deployed to manage movement and prevent further disruption. The incident however led to political protests. Congress state spokesperson Abhinav Barolia staged a dharna at the site, alleging poor construction and corruption in the Public Works Department (PWD). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo He claimed he was nearby when the road collapsed and that the incident could have caused a serious accident if any vehicle had been present. Barolia targeted PWD minister Rakesh Singh, referring to his earlier statement that potholes are common. He demanded an investigation and action against those responsible. Other Congress leaders also protested at the site by stepping into the pit and demanding accountability from officials. They alleged that road damage is widespread in the city and called for a probe into the condition of roads and construction quality. State Congress President Jeetu Patwari posted a video of the collapsed road on social media platform X, targeting the government and highlighting the incident as an example of poor infrastructure and mismanagement. Potholed road turns selfie point Times News Network Bhopal: The portion of road that caved in on Thursday afternoon has turned into a selfie and reel point with passers by stopping to click pictures or make a video to post on social media. Soon the social media was full of videos about the road, and comments from people. While people made reels and shared them on social media, the Opposition Congress took pot shots at the state govt and especially the PWD minister Rakesh Singh. Sub-divisional magistrate L K Khare, who visited the spot, stated, "Every road is different and here, the footpath is old and a sewage line runs under the road. Since the road has a slope, rainwater runs down from above and if there is heavy rainfall, the area gets temporarily waterlogged. The road will be repaired today, he asserted. New pipes have already been brought, and the repair work will start soon." he said. Congress workers led by Manoj Shukla reached the spot and garlanded the pit offering tributes to it. Shukla with his supporters also staged a sit-in inside the pit. Talking to media persons, Shukla, said, "MP Nagar is the commercial hub of the state capital and if this is the situation here, that in other parts of the city and state could be well imagined. The govt is neck-deep in corruption and we will work together to expose it." Shopkeepers from the area also came to check on the road. When asked how it happened, one of them said "We were not here when it happened. Luckily there was no loss of life or property as nobody was around at that time. The portion of road remains water-logged even at the slightest rain."
NDTV
18-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Bhopal Bridge With 90-Degree Turn To Be Redesigned After Memes Go Viral
Bhopal: A rail overbridge that presented a disaster in waiting in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal will be redesigned, the authorities have said. A 90-degree L-shaped turn on one section of the bridge drew attention over the design flaw. Any motorist approaching that turn even at a slow speed would find it challenging to take the turn. A high- to moderate-speed turn would be impossible, or lead to an accident. Following criticism from experts, the rail overbridge will be redesigned by expanding the turn by three feet, which would enable a more rounded approach. Visuals of the rail overbridge had gone viral on social media, with many calling the design "ridiculous" and inherently dangerous. The railway department has given permission to expand the bridge, the authorities have said. The correct design will be achieved by removing dividers and adding more width. Built at a cost of Rs 18 crore, the bridge made headlines due to its 90-degree L-shaped turn, which locals called a "statue of confusion." At 648 meters in length and 8.5 meters in width, the bridge looked more like a scribble from a government notepad than a product of a civil engineering blueprint, people pointed out on social media. Congress spokesperson Abhinav Barolia said the "looks like something out of a video game, extremely dangerous." Locals, too, had voiced safety concerns. "I was passing by here, then I wanted to see the bridge. This bridge has three sharp turns that are extremely dangerous. There's a 100 per cent chance of accidents happening here. The bridge is good, but turning is not good at all. Mostly, accidents can happen here. Breakers and turns are quite dangerous. There should be more space here, too," local resident Nida Khan said. The construction began in March 2023 and was slated to be completed in 18 months. However, the project has taken over 36 months due to delays, including the shifting of electrical lines and coordination issues between the Public Works Department and the railways. Despite its intended purpose of reducing travel time and easing traffic in the Aishbagh area, the bridge became a subject of public concern due to its design and construction delays.
