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NDTV
10 hours ago
- 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.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Lesson In Geometry? Bhopal Bridge With 90-Degree Angle Turns Heads
Bhopal: In a country where development sometimes takes a wrong turn, the newly inaugurated Aishbagh Overbridge in Bhopal is fast becoming a case study. Built at a cost of Rs 18 crore, the bridge - 648 metres long and 8.5 metres wide - is not making headlines for delays or cost-overruns, but how it turns. Imagine driving straight, then halting to make a 90-degree L-shaped turn - without any warning signs - and then hoping the car doesn't kiss the wall. Locals now jokingly call it not a bridge, but a "statue of confusion." "This is a very dangerous bridge," says Nida Khan, a local resident. "The turns are sharp, and it becomes even riskier at night. With heavy two-way traffic and blind curves, accidents are just waiting to happen." "According to civil engineering standards, either the turning radius is wrong, or the mistake lies in the Detailed Project Report," explains town and country planner Suyash Kulshreshtha. "This could become an accident-prone zone. Mirrors must be installed, and vehicle speed must be strictly controlled." Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh, however, downplayed concerns. "Suddenly, after the bridge is built, some experts appear and raise doubts. Every bridge is cleared only after technical assessments. If there are allegations, we will investigate," he said. Local MLA and Minister Vishwas Sarang, who regularly posted inspection selfies during construction, had also said, "I have visited the site many times." But the opposition has questioned the government, asking if technical assessments were followed, how did the bridge take such an inexplicable turn? Speaking to news agency ANI, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari said, "How did the department (PWD) accept this kind of design... The government should wake up and punish the people who created such a design with the public's hard-earned money. The government should wake up before the bridge becomes a death ground."
