Serpentine bridge in Bhopal under scanner for poor design, dangerous position of dividers
Bhopal: A railway overbridge (ROB) designed in the shape of a snake at Subhash Nagar in the city is under scrutiny for its shape as well as the poorly positioned dividers.
This is the second structure in Bhopal that has drawn criticism for its poor design. A couple of weeks ago, authorities concerned were severely criticised for the construction of a bridge in Aishbagh with a 90-degree turn, reports India Today.
The ROB, which was planned to be a link between Maida Mill and Prabhat petrol bunk, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 40 crore and was opened for public use two years ago. Although it has eased traffic congestion in Subhash Nagar, the cases of accidents related to the dividers on the stretch have given rise to questions on the flaws in the design. The serpentine structure and the poor positioning and low height of the dividers have made it difficult for drivers to manoeuvre their vehicles on the stretch.
The vehicle drivers are learned to have lost control while negotiating the sharp turns while in one case, the car hit a road divider and overturned. A school van was damaged in another accident, after hitting the divider.
Structural engineer and bridge expert Prakhar Pagaria has expressed serious concern over the design, stating that serpentine bridges are inherently risky. He also said that such designs should be used only in case of space constraints that leave no alternative.
Although no fatality was reported during the accidents, the recurring accidents have given rise to worry about risk of lives being lost while traveling on the bridge. The need for the government as well as the civic authorities to review the bridge and take corrective measures by assessing its design is considered urgent.
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Karnataka to host Nobel laureates at Quantum India Bengaluru summit
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Science and Technology Minister N S Boseraju on Tuesday said the state is set to witness a historic moment in India’s scientific journey as the state government is all set to host Nobel laureates Duncan Haldane and David Gross for an exclusive dialogue on July 30.
The interaction precedes the nation’s first-ever Quantum India Bengaluru Summit, scheduled on July 31 and August 1, officials said.
“Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, our government is laying the groundwork to position Karnataka as India’s Quantum Capital. This dialogue with Nobel Laureates marks the beginning of a long-term roadmap to integrate quantum innovation into Karnataka’s development blueprint,” the Minister said in a statement.
With Bengaluru already recognised as the nation’s innovation nucleus, Karnataka is accelerating efforts to harness quantum technologies for economic and social transformation.
From IT and aerospace to cutting-edge quantum frontiers, the state aims to strengthen its position on the global innovation map, he added.
According to him, the dialogue will facilitate high-level discussions between the Nobel Laureates and Karnataka’s top officials, including the Principal Secretaries of Industries, IT and BT, and Higher Education. The exchange is expected to pave the way for advancing quantum research, infrastructure, and collaborations with global experts.
"The presence of Nobel Laureates at the Quantum India Bengaluru Summit underscores the international significance of the event, which will bring together global and national leaders in quantum science, placing Karnataka at the epicenter of India’s quantum revolution," he added.
