Bhopal’s Baffling Bridge: When Urban Planning Took a Hard Right—Literally

In the heart of Bhopal, where infrastructure dreams meet architectural nightmares, stands a bridge that’s less a feat of engineering and more a meme in reinforced concrete. Meet the Aishbagh rail overbridg, a 648-meter-long, 8.5-meter-wide curiosity that cost ₹18 crore and gave us one of the most unintentionally hilarious U-turns in urban planning history.

Not just a metaphor—this bridge actually makes a sharp 90-degree turn.

Constructed to connect two densely packed localities while dodging metro stations and land limitations like a real-life Tetris game, engineers made a bold choice: a turn so sharp, even GPS had second thoughts. According to the official rationale, there was “no other option.” But for commuters trying to navigate the bend at anything above pedestrian pace, “option” wasn’t the problem—survival was.

Sharp right! 90-degree turn on #Bhopal #railway overbridge leaves motorists fuming, minister to inspect on June 14.

Details here 🔗https://t.co/hHXZFqk9BV pic.twitter.com/9VGfWbY30k

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) June 14, 2025

Naturally, the internet did what it does best: it transformed bureaucratic absurdity into art. From memes calling it a “video game level designed by Satan” to quotes like “death will now arrive at a 90-degree angle,” the public response was pure gold. One especially spicy comment dubbed it “Bhopal Drift”—because if you take that corner without Tokyo skills, you’re airborne.

Originally slated for an 18-month completion, the project lingered for over 36 months, thanks to shifting utility lines, coordination chaos between Indian Railways and the Public Works Department, and—presumably—a long pause for everyone involved to contemplate their life choices.

After the internet roasted the design like a soggy samosa, the authorities relented. Indian Railways granted more land, and engineers are now flattening the turn by three feet—because physics, it turns out, is not optional.

In the end, the Aishbagh bridge gave India more than a functional crossing. It gifted us a cautionary tale, a viral sensation, and a masterclass in how public mockery can literally reshape concrete.

And to think—they say memes can’t change the world.

Want me to cook up a satirical headline for this wonder? Or explore other public works that went delightfully off-script? I’ve got a toolbox full of them.