Bhopal's infamous 90° bridge to be rebuilt as meme-fest prompts action

A new bridge in the heart of Bhopal that drew ridicule from residents and became the subject of a raft of memes online for its sharp 90-degree turn will be rebuilt, officials said on Wednesday, 20 days after the structure was completed.

- Shruti Tomar [e-mail]

The decision comes after a report by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)'s deemed the bridge, built by the Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD), unsafe for vehicles travelling at speeds of above 35km/hr.

"The redesign will follow NHAI's recommendations," said a PWD official who asked not to be named.

The 648-metre long and 8.5-metre wide bridge, built in Bhopal's Aishbagh neighbourhood at a cost of 18 crore between August 2022 and May 2025 was scheduled to be inaugurated on June 15.

However, before the official ceremony, images of the bridge's flawed design went viral on social media, sparking widespread criticism.