Bhopal Railway Overbridge to be Redesigned Following Safety Concerns

Bhopal’s 90-degree railway overbridge is set to undergo a redesign due to sustained criticism. The Central Expert Committee, responding to public outcry and media coverage, has recommended changes to the bridge’s design. The primary suggestion involves expanding the turn radius from 6 meters to 16.7 meters, thereby eliminating the sharp turn and improving safety for heavy vehicles. This overbridge links Aishbagh and other heavily populated areas, which experience high daily traffic volumes. Design faults have led to consistent traffic congestion and increased accident potential, leading to complaints from both residents and commuters. The anticipated revisions are expected to alleviate these issues. A revised detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared based on the committee’s recommendations and will be submitted to the state government and the Municipal Corporation. The railways and the construction agency will supervise the redesign. Authorities anticipate minimal impact on the overall project timeline. The ROB project, budgeted at Rs 17.37 crore, started on May 21, 2022, with an initial completion target of August 2024, but remains unfinished as of August 2025. In June, the widespread circulation of images illustrating the bridge’s issues prompted Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to intervene, resulting in the suspension of eight engineers and the blacklisting of the construction agency and design firm.