Madhya Pradesh: Engineers Build A Bridge With 'Dangerous' 90-Degree Turn, Suspended

The Madhya Pradesh government has taken decisive action against seven engineers, including two chief engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD), due to a flawed design of a new Rail Over Bridge (ROB) in Bhopal's Aishbagh area. The bridge features an unusual 90-degree turn, sparking criticism and concern among locals.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated on X that he had acknowledged the serious oversight in the ROB's construction and initiated an inquiry. Based on the findings, eight PWD engineers faced disciplinary measures. Seven were suspended immediately, while a retired superintendent engineer will undergo a departmental inquiry.

Design Flaws and Criticism

The newly constructed over-bridge has drawn criticism from both residents and online users who questioned its sharp turn design. Concerns were raised about how vehicles would safely navigate such an abrupt angle. The bridge was intended to enhance connectivity between Mahamai Ka Bagh, Pushpa Nagar, and New Bhopal, benefiting around three lakh people.

PWD additional chief secretary Neeraj Mandloi identified the engineers involved in the alleged faulty design. They include chief engineers Sanjay Khande and G P Verma, in-charge executive engineer Javed Shakeel, in-charge sub-divisional officer Ravi Shukla, sub-engineer Umashankar Mishra, assistant engineer Shanul Saxena, in-charge executive engineer Shabana Rajjaq, and retired superintendent engineer M P Singh.

Actions Taken Against Firms

The government has also blacklisted the architect firm M/s Puneet Chaddha and design consultant M/s Dynamic Consultant for their roles in the project. A committee has been established to implement necessary improvements to ensure the ROB's safety before its inauguration.

Officials involved with the construction argued that limited land availability and proximity to a metro rail station constrained their options. They suggested that acquiring additional land could allow for converting the sharp turn into a curve.

Future Improvements

A committee formed by the PWD last week is tasked with finding solutions for safe vehicle movement on the bridge. The ROB was built at a cost of Rs 18 crore to improve connectivity between key areas of Bhopal.