Seven Engineers Suspended Over Bhopal Bridge with 90-Degree Turn
The Madhya Pradesh government has suspended seven engineers and blacklisted a design firm over the construction of a new rail over-bridge in Bhopal with a hazardous 90-degree turn. The Rs 18 crore project faced widespread public ridicule and safety concerns. Following an inquiry, the Chief Minister ordered the suspensions and a probe into a retired engineer, stating the bridge will not open until safety improvements are made to rectify the widely criticized and dangerous design flaw.
Unpacked:
Officials involved in the construction stated that the sharp 90-degree turn was necessitated by a lack of available land and the presence of a metro rail station nearby. If additional land had been secured, the turn could have been designed as a safer curve instead.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has formed a committee of chief engineers to consult all stakeholders and determine corrective actions. The bridge will not open until the sharp turn is made smoother and safe for vehicles, possibly by acquiring a bit more land to convert the turn into a curve.
The bridge was intended to benefit about 300,000 people daily by reducing waiting times at railway crossings and eliminating long detours. Its closure delays these improvements and continues the inconvenience for residents of the Aishbagh area.
Seven engineers from the Public Works Department have been suspended, and the design consultant firm has been blacklisted. Additionally, there is a probe into the role of a retired engineer involved in the project’s planning and execution.