Just days after Bhopal’s controversial Aishbagh Railway Over Bridge (ROB) made headlines for its awkward 90-degree turn, a similar design flaw is now raising eyebrows in Indore. A new under construction ROB near Polo Ground has become the center of criticism due to its Z-shaped design, featuring two sharp 90-degree turns.
The bridge, being constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD), aims to connect Laxmibai Nagar to Polo Ground via Bhagirathpura and MR-4, but its angular layout has shocked both residents and road safety experts. The sharp bends are especially concerning to truck drivers and local industrialists, who fear it could become a hotspot for accidents.
MP Shankar Lalwani has written a letter to the state's Public Works Minister over the design besides instructing officials to change the sharp turn proposed in the design of the under-construction ROB. "I have asked the officials to rectify this dangerous turn to prevent potential accidents and traffic chaos," Lalwani said.
PWD Responds to Criticism
Facing mounting backlash, PWD officials are now re-evaluating the design. Executive Engineer Gurmeet Kaur Bhatia confirmed the reassessment, "We are re-examining the design following concerns raised in the media. Necessary improvements will be made if required."
The Polo Ground Industrialists Welfare Association has also expressed strong objections over the ROB. Its president, Dhananjay Chinchalkar, warned of the steep slopes and dangerous turns, stating that, “If this design is implemented, accidents are certain.”
Political Storm Brews
The controversy has sparked political reactions as well. Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma mocked the project, saying, "The city's minister must be asleep, or the PWD minister is out of his senses. It looks like Indore engineers are trying to outdo Bhopal’s blunder by adding not one but two 90-degree turns."
PWD Minister Rakesh Singh defended the design, stating that it includes a 20-meter turning radius, superelevation, and a design speed of 20 kmph, arguing that such adjustments were necessary due to space constraints.
The unfolding situation draws parallels to Bhopal’s Aishbagh ROB fiasco, where poor design led to massive criticism, memes, and eventually, the suspension of seven engineers, including two chief engineers.
