Bhopal Railway Overbridge Redesign Planned Due to Public Backlash

The 90-degree railway overbridge in Bhopal, the subject of ongoing controversy, will be redesigned. Following consistent criticism and exposure in both national media and viral images, the Central Expert Committee has recommended modifications to address the dangerous design flaws. Specifically, the committee has proposed enlarging the existing 6-meter turn radius to 16.7 meters. This adjustment will eliminate the sharp turn, thereby enhancing safety for all vehicles, especially larger ones. The overbridge provides access to densely populated areas such as Aishbagh, which experience significant traffic flow daily. The flawed design resulted in frequent traffic congestion and heightened accident risks, prompting continuous complaints from the local community and daily commuters. The proposed alterations are expected to substantially improve the situation for those affected. A new detailed project report (DPR) will now be developed based on the committee’s recommendations and presented to the state government and the Municipal Corporation. Oversight of the redesign will be shared between the railways and the construction agency, with officials indicating minimal disruption to the overall project schedule. The ROB project, with a budget of Rs 17.37 crore, commenced on May 21, 2022, with an initial completion date set for August 2024, though the project remains uncompleted as of August 2025. Following the viral dissemination of problematic images in June, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav intervened, resulting in the suspension of eight engineers and the blacklisting of the construction agency and the design firm.