Fearing accidents on a sharp-angled flyover in Bhopal’s Aishbagh area, Congress leaders on Saturday held a prayer ceremony, seeking divine protection for daily commuters.
Party members gathered on the newly built railway overbridge (ROB) with priests and traditional instruments. Rituals were performed to ensure the safety of the over 1 lakh people expected to use it daily.
The flyover, notorious for its angular turns has drawn sharp criticism online. Following public outcry, PWD Minister Rakesh Singh ordered an National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) inquiry, which in-turn advised a speed cap for commuter safety.
Congress leader Manoj Shukla called the flyover an example of corruption-driven engineering. “Even a layperson knows such turns need a wider radius,” he said, blaming negligence by the PWD and railways.
He warned that the design increases the risk of crashes and said the ceremony was meant to prevent mishaps. “The public may pay for their carelessness,” he added.
The prayer was attended by Congress spokesperson Mukesh Panthi, Amit Khatri, Asharam Sharma, Deepak Diwan, Anas Ur Rehman and others.
Railways had objected to the sharp turn during planning, but PWD engineers cited space constraints and pressed on. With the Aishbagh crossing shut, the ROB was deemed essential.
Work began in May 2022, with an 18-month deadline. The Rs 18 crore bridge is 648 metres long and 8 metres wide. A 70-metre stretch is under Railway control.