The much-anticipated road-widening project in Bhopal's Awadhpuri area, intended to decongest traffic, has instead become a case study in civic mismanagement and flawed execution. Serious deficiencies have emerged in the ongoing work along the critical 1.8-kilometre stretch connecting the SOS junction to the Awadhpuri trisection, raising alarms over public safety and project planning.
Unsafe Conditions and Rushed Work
The most visible and dangerous flaw is the presence of unshifted electric poles standing awkwardly at the edges of newly constructed lanes. The contractor began road construction without relocating these utilities first, creating a major hazard for motorists and pedestrians, especially after dark. Residents describe the stretch as chaotic and accident-prone.
"This rushed start invites accidents," said local resident Vikas Kumar, pointing to official apathy and a clear lack of coordination between departments. The project, which had faced delays and only resumed after media spotlight, has severely disrupted daily commutes for thousands living in densely populated colonies served by this connector.
Haphazard Sequencing and Durability Concerns
The problems run deeper than just the poles. Contractors reportedly started road work before properly expanding and reinforcing a key culvert in the section. This poor sequencing forced crews to later dig up and tear apart completed sections to address underlying drainage issues, wasting time and resources.
Urban planners and engineers warn that such haphazard methods could compromise the road's long-term durability. They also highlight that the inconsistent lane widths—alternating between narrow and broad sections—are likely to cause persistent traffic bottlenecks and encourage unsafe overtaking maneuvers, defeating the project's core purpose of easing congestion.
Residents Bear the Brunt of Dust and Disruption
The ongoing chaos has sparked anger and frustration among locals, who are weary of the prolonged disruption, dust, and uneven gravel surfaces. "I can't take my newborn baby out to the balcony because of the heavy dust. They should have shifted the poles first. What kind of engineering is this?" questioned Sparsh Dwivedi, a social worker from the area.
Another resident, Anubhav Shrivastava, criticised the mitigation efforts, stating that the contractor's actions seem limited to occasional water sprinkling to settle the dust.
Contractor's Defense and Official Silence
When confronted, contractor Mahesh Narwani defended the decision to start work despite the poles. "I waited almost three months for the pole shifting. With a six-month deadline, I had no option but to start the work," he stated. Narwani added that the current focus is on completing the culvert's retaining wall before road construction can resume.
However, officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) chose not to comment when approached for their statement on the controversy. For the citizens of Awadhpuri and regular commuters, these explanations offer little solace as yet another civic project in Bhopal stumbles due to poor coordination and rushed execution, echoing past failures like the city's 90-degree bridge controversy.
