A newly built $2.3 million Rail Over Bridge (ROB) in Bhopal, India, meant to ease congestion for over 300,000 daily commuters, has instead drawn widespread criticism and ridicule for featuring an abrupt 90-degree turn. The 648-meter-long bridge, connecting Mahamai Ka Bagh and New Bhopal, was designed to reduce traffic snarls—but photos of the sharp turn midway through the structure went viral, triggering public disbelief and safety concerns.
Bureaucratic Gridlock and Design Blunders: Bhopal Bridge Sparks Disciplinary Action
As a result, seven engineers, including two chief engineers, were suspended, and a retired sub-engineer is under departmental investigation. Additionally, both the construction firm and design consultant have been blacklisted. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav confirmed swift action after the design flaw came to light.
The odd layout reportedly resulted from a seven-year conflict between the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Railways over land sharing. Initial designs dating back to 2018 proposed a 45-degree skew, but were abandoned after the Railways refused land access. Subsequent versions tried to work around both railway property and a nearby Metro station, leading to a series of compromises and ultimately resulting in a near-90-degree turn.
Unsafe by Design: Bhopal Bridge Sparks Outrage Over Planning Failures
Project Chief Engineer VD Verma defended the layout, claiming there was no alternative due to limited space and Metro line constraints. However, critics argue such a sharp angle is inherently unsafe and should never have been approved. Even internal PWD documents and a later admission by the Railways acknowledged that the final design fails both functional and safety standards.
To address the issue, authorities are now considering acquiring additional land to redesign the turn, though this will involve more costs and delays. For commuters, the bridge—intended as a relief—has instead become a symbol of bureaucratic wrangling and poor planning, highlighting how engineering missteps can escalate into political controversy.
Summary:
A $2.3 million bridge in Bhopal sparked outrage for its unsafe 90-degree turn, leading to the suspension of seven engineers and blacklisting of firms. Caused by years of land disputes and poor planning, the flawed design now faces costly corrections, turning a relief project into a symbol of bureaucratic failure.
