Bhopal's 90-degree bridge to be redesigned after wild turn stumps people

Bhopal's newly-constructed Aishbagh Bridge, which sparked a buzz with a wild 90-degree turn, will now be redesigned, and the Indian Railways has agreed to provide additional land to facilitate the same. This move comes after mounting public concern and media pressure, with India Today prominently raising the issue of the bridge's flawed design.

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. 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.

The redesign is being seen as a crucial step toward improving traffic flow in one of the busiest areas of Lucknow. PWD officials said that the project will move forward as soon as the railway completes the land transfer, with construction expected to commence shortly thereafter. 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 the news agency PTI, "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."