Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday said action would be taken against officials found responsible for technical errors in the construction of a controversial railway overbridge (RoB) in Bhopal, which features a sharp 90-degree turn.
The bridge, located near Aishbagh Stadium in the state capital, has come under heavy criticism from locals in the city and social media users, who questioned the abrupt turn and its potential to cause accidents. The Chief Minister has assured the public that the overbridge will not be opened until its technical flaws are rectified.
"The technical defects in the construction of the Aishbagh RoB will be addressed. Those responsible will be identified and action will be taken against them," Yadav said in a statement. He added that work to correct the mistakes is already underway.
The ₹18-crore bridge was built to ease traffic between Mahamai Ka Bagh, Pushpa Nagar, and the railway station area to Bhopal. However, concerns have grown as the 90-degree turn is expected to pose challenges for drivers, particularly for big vehicles.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has formed a committee to examine the issue and suggest solutions to ensure safer movement of vehicles. PWD Minister Rakesh Singh said last week that a team from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which inspected the site, concluded that the unusual design was a result of limited land availability.
The committee, comprising two chief engineers, will consult with all stakeholders, including the railways, before finalising recommendations. Singh added that the committee’s report would determine how best to modify the turn to make it smoother and safer.
Project officials involved in the bridge’s construction defended the layout, citing spatial constraints and the presence of a nearby metro station as major limiting factors. They suggested that acquiring a small amount of additional land could allow the sharp angle to be transformed into a gentler curve.
Construction of the RoB began in March 2023. At the time, the government said that once completed, it would eliminate delays at the level crossing and reduce detours for commuters. It was expected to benefit around 3,00,000 people in the Aishbagh area everyday.
However, with rising public discontent, online backlash over the design, focus has now turned to the planning process. Locals have warned of protests that the steep turn presents a serious risk of accidents, particularly for heavy vehicles navigating the curve.
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