Bhopal's 90-degree bridge to be redesigned

Bhopal's newly-constructed 90-degree L-shaped Aishbagh rail overbridge will be redesigned. The Indian Railways has agreed to provide additional land to facilitate the same. This move comes after mounting public concern and media pressure.

The 648-meter-long and 8.5-meter-wide bridge, built at a cost of Rs18 crore, features a sharp 90-degree turn that has raised alarm among local residents and social media users, who fear it could become a hotspot for accidents. Following criticism from experts, the rail overbridge will be redesigned by expanding the turn by three feet, which would enable a more rounded approach.

Sources in the Public Works Department (PWD) have confirmed to ‘India Today’ that once the railway hands over the required land, modifications will be made to the bridge. This includes dismantling the existing railing at the sharp 90-degree turn, which has been a known choke point for traffic.

On Wednesday, a team with a measurement machine reached the bridge for measurement at 90 degree turn. The new design aims to convert the sharp turn into a more gradual curve, thereby increasing the bridge's width by approximately three feet. This additional space is expected to significantly ease the movement of vehicles, reducing congestion and improving safety for commuters.

Earlier, officials involved in the project defended the design, citing logistical constraints. Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (Bridge Department), VD Verma, explained to a news agency, “Due to the metro station, there is limited availability of land at the point. Due to the lack of land, there was no other option. The purpose of the RoB is to connect the two colonies."

PWD Minister Rakesh Singh, when asked about the issue, said, “After a bridge is built, experts suddenly appear and say such things. A lot of technical aspects are taken into consideration while building any bridge. If this is an allegation, it will be investigated.”