Officials have suspended seven engineers, including two chief engineers, over the ‘faulty design’ of the railway over-bridge and blacklisted two companies in Bhopal, India
A £1.6m bridge which was built with a “deadly” right angle bend has seen seven engineers sacked and two companies blacklisted.
The disastrous project was meant to see the bridge going over a railway line in Bhopal, India, but in order to do so the planners decided a 90 degree turn was in order.
The Madhya Pradesh government has suspended seven engineers, including two chief engineers, over the ‘faulty design’ of the railway over-bridge.
The construction agency and design consultant have also been blacklisted too.
The 648-mete bridge was supposed to connect Mahamai Ka Bagh and New Bhopal, easing congestion and slashing wait times for up to 300,000 daily commuters
According to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, a committee has been formed to make necessary improvements to the bridge.
He said: “I have taken cognisance of the serious lapses in the construction of the Ashbagh ROB and ordered an inquiry.
“Based on the report, action has been taken against eight engineers from the Public Works Department.
“A committee has also been formed to carry out necessary corrections in the bridge.
“The bridge will only be inaugurated after these improvements are made.”
The bridge drew public outrage due to its dangerously sharp 90-degree turn, with many criticising the design from the outset.
Despite early criticism, officials had initially defended the design, attributing the flawed alignment to limited land availability near a metro station.
Chief Engineer, VD Verma, had said” “Due to the lack of land, there was no other option.”
After mounting pressure and a detailed report aired by India Today, the Chief Minister ordered an inquiry and the investigation revealed gross negligence in the planning and execution of the project.
Corrective measures would involve removing the current railing at the 90-degree turn and converting it into a broader curve, potentially increasing the bridge width by approximately three feet, a spokesman for the minister confirmed.