Looking around the world, this kind of thing could probably only happen in India. The newly built bridge in Madhya Pradesh has just been completed, but it has become a laughingstock around the world.

The new railway overpass in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, was supposed to be a savior for urban traffic, but due to an almost 90-degree sharp turn design, it became a joke as soon as it was completed. This 180 million rupee project (about 2.3 million US dollars) has made drivers reluctant to pass through, and netizens have jokingly called it "the hardest driving test in the world." This "peculiar" design quickly made it onto international hot search lists, with safety hazards that are astonishing. What kind of mistake led this bridge from a light of hope to global discussion?

In recent years, Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, has seen rapid population growth, and traffic pressure has been increasing day by day. Especially the congestion near the railway crossings has become a pain point in the daily lives of residents. In response, the local government invested 180 million rupees (about 2.3 million US dollars) to launch the construction of a 648-meter-long railway overpass (ROB). This bridge connects Mahamakhabag, Pushpanagar, and the train station and New Bhopal area, aiming to alleviate the bottleneck at the railway crossing and improve urban traffic efficiency. The project took 10 years and carried countless expectations. However, the reality after completion was completely opposite to the original intention.

The biggest "highlight" of this railway overpass is its almost 90-degree sharp turn design. This defect was evident immediately after the bridge was put into use. Normally, an overpass should guide vehicles with a gentle curve, but the steep angle of this bridge caught drivers off guard. When vehicles reach this section, they need to slow down significantly and carefully turn, otherwise they are prone to losing control. Especially for large vehicles, this design has become an "insurmountable obstacle." Engineering experts pointed out that such a design is extremely rare in global bridge construction and almost violates basic traffic engineering common sense.

The sharp turn not only brings driving difficulties but also serious safety hazards. Soon after the bridge was put into use, there were vehicle collisions due to the inability to turn properly, fortunately without any casualties. However, the potential risks are obvious: once the traffic volume increases or encounters rainy or foggy weather, visibility decreases, and the probability of accidents will increase significantly. Local residents are worried and have expressed that they dare not easily cross the bridge. At the same time, photos and videos of the bridge circulating on social media further amplified public concerns. Netizens described the bridge with words like "death bend" and "engineering disaster."

Investigations show that the root cause of this design flaw can be traced back to terrain restrictions and poor inter-departmental coordination. Bhopal's complex topography limited the bridge's location, and the design team failed to fully optimize the route, resulting in an excessively sharp curve. More puzzlingly, this issue was not discovered or corrected during the 10-year construction period. Multiple departments involved in the project lacked effective communication, and the design drawings were not strictly reviewed before being implemented, ultimately leading to a big mistake. Experts criticized that this reflects the widespread regulatory loopholes and lack of responsibility in India's infrastructure construction.

After the incident was exposed, the Madhya Pradesh government took immediate action. Seven engineers involved were suspended, and the design and construction units faced severe penalties. At the same time, authorities established an investigation team to assess the problem and develop solutions. Preliminary measures include adding speed bumps, reflective strips, and speed limit signs to reduce accident risks. In the long term, the government plans to invest additional funds to widen the curve and optimize the bridge structure. However, these remedial measures require time to complete, and the official opening of the bridge has been postponed. Although this move shows the government's determination, it is difficult to ease public dissatisfaction.

This bridge quickly became a global topic of discussion, especially gaining popularity on social media. Netizens compared the sharp turn of the bridge to the "right-angle turn" in the driving test, jokingly calling it "the largest driving test in the world." Although this humor is lighthearted, it cannot hide the public's anger. Citizens questioned why such a costly project has turned into a joke? Ten years of time and a huge amount of money have resulted in safety hazards and inconvenience. Under public pressure, the government's management capabilities and infrastructure quality have been widely criticized, even some comments pointed out, "Looking around the world, this kind of thing could probably only happen in India."

This bridge's mistake is not an isolated case. In recent years, India's infrastructure construction has frequently appeared in the news due to quality issues. From collapsed bridges to water seeping subway stations, similar incidents are common. Behind this, there are both the pressure of accelerated economic development causing rushed construction projects and deeper reasons such as outdated management systems and strict technical standards. This "right-angle bend bridge" in Bhopal is just a microcosm of India's infrastructure chaos. It not only exposes the incompetence of local governments but also casts doubt on the quality of Indian engineering in the eyes of the international community.

This incident serves as a warning for India's infrastructure construction. A seemingly simple design mistake actually involves the entire chain of planning, implementation, and supervision. How to ensure quality and safety while pursuing speed and scale is a challenge facing India. The government has promised to strengthen the supervision of future projects, but whether these promises can be fulfilled remains to be tested by time. For the citizens of Bhopal, this bridge is not only an unfinished passage but also a heavy lesson, reminding everyone that engineering is no small matter and mistakes come with high costs.

From a bridge of hope to a global laughingstock, the "sharp turn" behind this bridge in Bhopal is a result of management failures and a lack of responsibility. What do you think caused this absurd design? How should the government plug the gaps in infrastructure and avoid repeating the same mistakes? Please leave your comments to share your insights and help plan for safety and development together.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836693845520396/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.