The controversial turn in Bhopal’s infamous “90-degree” rail overbridge was actually measured at 118-119 degrees, an expert has told the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
In view of the findings, the Madhya Pradesh government has sought time from the court to reconsider its decision against a company it had blacklisted in connection with the controversial structure.
The expert, a professor from the Bhopal-based Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, submitted a report before a Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdev and Justice Vinay Saraf on Wednesday on the overpass.
The committee had visited the site on September 2 and 3.
“Status report indicates that the angle in the general arrangement drawing is 119 degrees and at the site, the angle was measured and turned down to be 118′ 40′ 01. The expert has opined that the angle of turn at site is comparatively same with general arrangement drawing,” the court said.
PWD Minister Rakesh Singh had defended the bridge design, saying, “Wherever a bridge or a road has to be constructed over an old city, you don’t have space. Then you have to go the 90-degree way, many times such circumstances arise, although, the bridge is not 90 degree.”
M/s Puneet Chadha, involved in the construction of the flyover in the Aishbagh area of Bhopal, had moved the High Court after the government blacklisted it amid the controversy over a purported “right-angle” turn on the bridge. The petition had prompted the court to seek an expert report.
After the submission of the report, which says the bridge has a turn of 118-119 degrees, the Madhya Pradesh government sought time from the court to rethink the action against the company.
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According to the petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Praveen Dubey, it got the contract for the construction of a flyover in Aishbagh in 2021-22. The general arrangement drawing (GAD) of the bridge was issued by a government agency, and the work was to be completed in 18 months.
The GAD was amended between 2023 and 2024, and the bridge was constructed under the supervision of the government agency, said the petitioner.
However, the images of the bridge with a sharp turn went viral on social media, drawing ridicule and criticism that the turn could cause accidents. The government then formed a five-member committee to investigate the matter.
There was a lack of coordination between the state government and the Railways in the matter, said the probe committee, noting that the rail track passes under the bend on the bridge. Besides, the pillars of the overpass have not been installed at the prescribed distance, it said.
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The petitioner claimed that the government blacklisted it only on the basis of the report of the investigation committee, without giving it an opportunity for a hearing.
Earlier, while ordering the expert assessment, the court had said that the petitioner should provide Rs 1 lakh towards the fees, and the Municipal Corporation of Bhopal should provide the required resources.
If the petitioner’s claim is correct, they will have the right to recover the fee amount, and no strict action should be taken against them, the court had said.
