The newly constructed Aishbagh Railway Overbridge (ROB) became an unlikely internet sensation on Wednesday after images of its unusually sharp 90-degree turn began circulating online. Social media users flooded X with reactions ranging from disbelief to satire, turning the overbridge into the subject of a meme fest.
The 648-metre-long and 8.5-metre-wide bridge has been constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 18 crore.
According to the Public Works Department, the bridge will ease traffic flow between Mahamai Ka Bagh, Pushpa Nagar, the station area, and New Bhopal. The bridge is expected to open to traffic by June 15.
However, it was not the project’s timeline or utility that caught public attention, but the right-angled bend midway across the structure.
X user @Tejusurya_ posted, “This is the Aishbagh rail-over-bridge in Bhopal. PWD took 10 years to create this engineering marvel. Apart from being a traffic choke point, that 90-degree turn…” The post was widely shared and quoted.
Another user, @Cow__Momma, commented, “Make learning fun at Aishbagh Railway Overbridge in Bhopal! Use the bridge's structure to teach kids about right angles in an engaging, real-world way.”
One user captioned a video of cars manoeuvring a tight corner with the line, “Hiring F1 drivers for Bhopal daily commute,” while others posted edited images of toy race tracks and puzzle pieces.
A few users raised safety concerns, with one writing, “This isn’t just a design flaw. It’s an accident site waiting to happen.”
Facebook and X also saw questions about the engineering logic behind such a design, with users speculating whether space constraints or planning oversights had led to the unusual layout.
Despite the online reaction, authorities have not commented on the design or issued any explanation for the angular deviation.
With days to go for its opening on June 15, the overbridge has already earned the distinction of being the most talked-about civic project in the city..