In India, a bridge with a 90-degree turn becomes the laughing stock of the country
The L-shaped structure, built at a cost of approximately €1.8 million, was intended to reduce waiting times for users at a level crossing. The bridge remains closed to traffic due to the dangers it poses to road safety, and six engineers have been suspended.
The incident has been widely mocked in India, on social media and even in the national media. A 648-meter-long, 8.5-meter-wide bridge built in the city of Bhopal, in Madhya Pradesh (central India), has been making headlines in recent weeks.
Not because the construction site was delayed or because the cost of the work had significantly exceeded the budget, as is often the case in India. The bridge has been ridiculed because of its shape, reports the website of the 24-hour news channel New Delhi Television ( NDTV ) . The infrastructure includes a 90-degree bend. “Local residents now jokingly call it not a bridge, but a 'statue of confusion,' ” the Indian media outlet continues.
The goal of the project was to reduce waiting times at a level crossing. The bridge, whose construction began in March 2023, has also faced delays. The project was supposed to be completed in eighteen months, but it took thirty-six to complete, partly due to “coordination issues between the Public Works Department and the Railways,” The Indian Express reports .
The civil engineer in charge of the project explained that due to the lack of available land at this location, he had no other option but to build an L-shaped bridge. Only light vehicles will travel on this bridge, he said, adding that heavy vehicles will not be allowed.
The track remains closed for now due to the safety risks posed by the structure. "Seven officials, including six engineers from the Madhya Pradesh government's public works department, were suspended on Saturday, June 28," The Hindu reported . A retired engineer has been ordered to be investigated for the "faulty design" of the newly constructed railway bridge in the state capital.
The agency in charge of the work and a consultant who worked on the design have been blacklisted, according to the state's chief minister, Mohan Yadav, who cited "serious negligence in the construction" of the bridge. The inauguration will take place after improvement work, he assured. He and his government have come under fire for the project, which cost 180 million rupees, or about 1.8 million euros.
Courrier International
