Madhya Pradesh govt orders probe against 8 engineers who 'designed' viral 90-degree bridge in Bhopal

The Madhya Pradesh government has suspended seven engineers of the public works department who "constructed" the viral 90-degree rail overbridge in Bhopal. The government has also initiated a probe against a retired superintendent engineer in connection with it.

 

 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said he had taken cognisance of drawbacks in the bridge and said authorities have been directed to carry out corrective measures. "I took cognizance of the serious negligence in the construction of the Aishbagh ROB and ordered an investigation. Based on the investigation report, action has been taken against eight engineers of the PWD," Yadav said in a post on X.

 

"Seven engineers, including two chief engineers, have been suspended with immediate effect. A departmental inquiry will be conducted against one retired superintendent engineer," he added.

 

The chief minister said the construction agency and the design consultant have been blacklisted for submitting a "faulty design" of the bridge. He added a committee has been formed to carry out necessary improvements in the bridge. "The ROB will be inaugurated only after the improvements are made," Yadav added.

 

The rail overbridge in the Aishbagh area became a subject of criticism and troll on social media after netizens questioned how vehicles would negotiate the sharp 90-degree turn.

 

The persons against whom action was taken for the alleged faulty design are chief engineers Sanjay Khande and G.P. Verma, in-charge executive engineer Javed Shakeel, in-charge sub-divisional officer Ravi Shukla, sub-engineer Umashankar Mishra, assistant engineer Shanul Saxena, in-charge executive engineer Shabana Rajjaq, and retired superintendent engineer M.P. Singh, said Public Works Department (PWD) additional chief secretary Neeraj Mandloi, PTI reported.

 

The bridge, built at a cost of ₹18 crore, was aimed at improving the connectivity between Mahamai Ka Bagh, Pushpa Nagar and the station area with New Bhopal. The bridge is expected to benefit about three lakh people.

 

However, officials associated with the construction claimed they had no other option but to build the bridge this way due to lack of land and presence of a metro rail station nearby.

 

India