Following months of critisism and widespread uproar of citizens, the controversial railway overbridge (ROB) in Bhopal's Aishbagh, which gained national notority for its "faulty" 90 degree turn, is finally set for a corrective makeover. A breakthrough agreement between the Railways and Public Works Department (PWD) has endeda 10-month stalemate, paving the way for the "death trap" structure to be modified and opened to the public.
Correcting 'Deadly Flaw'
The primary issue with this L-shaped, Rs 18 crore project was its curvy design that made bridge virtually impassable for most vehicles. Experts warned that the design posed a severe risk of skidding or overturning.
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Under the newly approved technical plan, the bridge will see significant structural adjustments:
Widening the Curve: The radius of the sharp turn will be increased from 2 meters to approximately 2.5 meters.
Expanding the Deck: The overall width of the bridge will be increased from 8.5 meters to a range of 10.5 to 11 meters.
Heavy Vehicle Access: These changes are intended to ensure that medium and heavy vehicles can navigate the stretch safely.
Redesign work is slated to begin within the next few days once the final technical nod is received from the Railways. Ironically, the same firm responsible for the original construction has been tasked with the repairs.
Global Design Embarrassment
Completed in June 2025, the bridge became a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons just days before its scheduled inauguration. Images of the bizarre right-angle turn triggered a wave of criticism and memes, turning the project into a case study of poor infrastructure planning.
The fallout was significant:
Suspensions: Seven PWD engineers were suspended following the outcry.
Expert Reviews: Agencies like MANIT were brought in to investigate how such a glaring error occurred.
The Metro Constraint: Investigations revealed that an adjacent Metro line restricted the available space, leading to the compromised design and subsequent bureaucratic finger-pointing between the PWD and Railways.
Defending The Indefensible?
Despite the clear structural issues, some officials initially defended the project. Earlier, PWD Bridge Department Chief Engineer VD Verma previously stated that limited land availability due to a nearby metro station left "no other option" for connecting the two local colonies. Similarly, PWD Minister Rakesh Singh dismissed early criticisms, suggesting that technical aspects are often misunderstood by non-experts, though he did promise an investigation into the allegations.
While the physical modifications may soon allow traffic to flow, the project remains a stark reminder of the consequences of flawed public engineering and administrative oversight.