Seven PWD officials suspended, enquiry against one retired official over Bhopal’s near 90-degree turn bridge

Seven officials, including six engineers of the Public Works Department of the Madhya Pradesh Government were suspended on Saturday (June 28, 2025), and an enquiry was ordered against a retired engineer in connection with the ‘faulty design’ of a newly-built rail over bridge in State capital Bhopal. 

A construction agency and the design consultant, hired for the job, have also been blacklisted for giving a “faulty design” for the project, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in an X post. 

“I had taken cognizance of the serious negligence in the construction of the Aishbagh ROB [rail over bridge] and ordered an investigation. Based on the investigation report, action has been taken against eight engineers of the PWD. Seven engineers, including two CEs [chief engineers], have been suspended with immediate effect. A departmental inquiry will be conducted against one retired SE [superintendent engineer],” Mr. Yadav said.

The Chief Minister also said that a committee has been formed for the necessary improvements in the ROB.

“The ROB will be inaugurated only after the improvements are made,” Mr. Yadav said. 

The bridge, in Bhopal’s Aishbagh area, had become a laughing stock after pictures of it went viral on the internet earlier this month, with the State Government facing severe criticism over its design. The bride has an almost-90 degree turn, raising questions of how the vehicles take the sharp turn and fears of road accidents. 

The blacklisted agencies are — architect firm M/s Puneet Chaddha and design consultant M/s Dynamic Consultant. 

The suspended officials are — chief engineers G. P. Verma and Sanjay Khande; executive engineers Javed Shakeel and Shabana Razzaq; assistant engineer (design) Shanul Saxena; deputy engineer Umashankar Mishra; and sectional officer Ravi Shukla. 

Meanwhile, a departmental enquiry has been ordered against retired supervising engineer A. P. Singh, who was in service when the bridge design was approved.

Built at a cost of ₹18 crore, the bridge was built to improve the connectivity between Mahamai Ka Bagh, Pushpa Nagar and the station area with New Bhopal.