Another Sharp Turn Railway Overbridge In Madhya Pradesh Sparks Fresh Debate Amid Bhopal Bridge Design Controversy

Amid the controversy over the 90 degree turn on a railway overbridge (ROB) in Bhopal, a similar case has emerged surrounding the "faulty design" of an under-construction ROB in Indore, reported PTI.

Local residents and Indore MP Shankar Lalwani raised alarms over a sharp turn proposed in a ROB design in Indore’s Pologround area, fearing potential traffic hazards and accidents.

Lalwani said he noticed a problematic sharp turn in the design during a government meeting last month and urged officials to revise the plan.

“In the meeting, I told government officials to reduce this turn by changing the design of the ROB. I have also written a letter to Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh in this regard so that fears of accidents and traffic jams due to ROB can be removed,” Lalwani was quoted as saying by PTI.

Howver, MP PWD minister Rakesh Singh on Wednesday insisted the Indore ROB was being built in accordance with “fully approved technical designs and structural standards”.

Singh explained that the ROB will span 1,027.60 metres in length and 12 metres in width, providing connectivity towards Pologround, Laxmibai Station, and Bhagirathpura.

He noted that all five curves in the ROB meet Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines, with radii exceeding the minimum 15 metres standard.

Executive Engineer Gurmeet Kaur Bhatia acknowledged media reports about the design concerns and confirmed that the ROB’s plans are being re-examined, adding, “If there is any need for improvement in it, then it will be done.”

The debate follows the recent suspension of seven engineers and probe against a retired engineer over design flaws in the Bhopal ROB near Aishbagh Stadium, which has become a subject of widespread public criticism and online ridicule.

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