Madhya Pradesh Government Suspends Engineers Over Faulty Rail Overbridge Design

Suspension of Engineers in Bhopal Bridge Controversy

On Saturday, the government of Madhya Pradesh took decisive action by suspending seven engineers, including two chief engineers from the Public Works Department. This move is linked to the controversial design of a new rail overbridge featuring a sharp 90-degree turn in the Aishbagh area of Bhopal.

The 648-meter bridge, which cost Rs 18 crore to construct, has faced significant backlash due to safety concerns related to its design. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed his concern over the 'serious negligence' involved in the bridge's construction and has initiated an inquiry into the matter. He announced on social media that action has been taken against eight engineers from the PWD based on the investigation's findings.

While seven engineers were suspended immediately, a retired senior engineer will face a departmental inquiry, according to Yadav. He also mentioned that both the construction agency and the design consultant have been blacklisted for providing a flawed design for the rail overbridge project. A committee has been established to implement necessary improvements to the bridge.

Yadav emphasized that the overbridge will only be inaugurated once the required enhancements are completed.

ऐशबाग आरओबी के निर्माण में हुई गंभीर लापरवाही में मैंने संज्ञान लेते हुए जाँच के आदेश दिये थे। जाँच रिपोर्ट के आधार पर लो.नि.वि. के 8 इंजीनियर्स के खिलाफ कार्रवाई की गई है। दो सीई सहित सात इंजीनियर्स को तत्काल प्रभाव से निलंबित किया गया है। एक सेवानिवृत एसई के खिलाफ विभागीय जाँच…

— Dr Mohan Yadav (@DrMohanYadav51) June 28, 2025

Initially, officials defended the bridge's design, citing limited land availability near a metro station as the reason for the flawed alignment. Chief Engineer VD Verma was quoted as saying that there were no alternatives due to space constraints.

On Thursday, Yadav informed reporters that he had been made aware of the bridge's problematic design, which features an almost 90-degree turn. He noted that construction began in 2022 and has yet to be completed. Yadav instructed officials and the minister to address the concerns raised, adjust the curve to prevent accidents, and hold accountable those responsible for the design errors.