5 major construction flaws exposed in Bhopal bypass road collapse:Experts find asphalt crumbling in hands, soil giving way; severe design irregularities revealed

A 100-metre stretch of the road connected to the Reinforced Earth (RE) Wall of the Railway Overbridge (ROB) on the Bhopal Bypass has collapsed. Built in 2013 at a cost of Rs 305 crore, the bypass has now revealed large-scale corruption and poor engineering after just 12 years. A Dainik Bhaskar investigation found five major flaws behind the road’s failure — from weak soil and poor drainage to substandard construction materials and lack of maintenance. Experts identify major engineering defects Structural engineer Suyash Kulshrestha inspected nearly 30 km of the bypass with the Dainik Bhaskar team. He found several irregularities that show the collapse was not accidental but the result of serious negligence. Flaw 1: No gravel layer for compaction The road’s foundation should have been strengthened with gravel or boulders every three feet during filling. Instead, murram (kopra) was loosely filled without proper compaction.This caused the soil to lose grip and strength, making the road unstable. Flaw 2: Poor-quality and thin asphalt layer The asphalt layer was only 15–20 cm thick in many places, instead of the standard 20–25 cm.Experts found that the top layer broke apart easily by hand, proving poor-quality materials were used. The soil beneath was also damp and crumbling. Flaw 3: Weak retaining wall The retaining wall beside the bridge, built by the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC), was not constructed as per technical norms.For a height of 50 feet, a 600-foot horizontal slope should have been built, but it was ignored. The wall was too weak to hold back the soil, leading to the collapse. Flaw 4: No drainage system The bypass road sits more than 50 feet above nearby fields and ponds, yet no drainage system was built.Without outlets for rainwater, water collected under the surface and weakened the soil. Over time, the soaked earth gave way, causing the road to sink. Flaw 5: Cracks ignored by officials Villagers had noticed cracks for several days before the collapse. Heavy rains worsened the damage.Despite visible signs, MPRDC officials, including AGM Sanjeev Jain and GM Sonal Sinha, failed to act. Even after an inspection in June, no issue was identified. Pictures show extent of damage – ​​​​​​Testing and repair work underway GM Sonal Sinha confirmed that material testing has begun. Results will be ready within a week.Traffic restoration is planned within ten days, and a Rs 9 crore tender has been issued for repairs. Past protests over construction quality Congress rural district president Anokhi Patel said corruption was exposed even in 2013, when poor-quality murram was used.He demanded Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav take strict action against those involved.Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s claim that MP roads were “better than America’s” was mocked, with demands for full investigation and accountability. Nearby sections also at risk Locals like Vishnu Vishwakarma warned that the nearby stretch is also sinking.If ignored, more sections could collapse soon.Villager Anchal Thakur demanded an impartial probe and punishment for those responsible. Bypass built by Andhra Pradesh company The 55 km Bhopal Bypass was built under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model by Transstroy Private Limited from Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 305 crore.In 12 years, toll collection reached Rs 650 crore. Experts found that the company did not build the RE wall properly and failed to maintain it for over five years.MPRDC cancelled the contract in 2020, though the company had already been blacklisted in 2017. Despite this, officials did not monitor the project. Company’s other projects also failed The same company’s Singarcholi Rail Overbridge project, worth Rs 776 crore, and Obedullaganj–Betul highway (Rs 912 crore) were both cancelled for delays.By 2016, only 1.34% of the Betul project was completed, leading to contract termination by the NHAI. MPRDC admits poor soil quality MPRDC has admitted that low-quality soil and technical lapses caused the failure.Essential stone pitching and drainage work were not done, while local soil excavation by farmers worsened the problem. A three-member inquiry committee has been formed to submit a report within seven days. Repair work has already begun and is expected to finish within ten days. Consultants confirm faulty work MPRDC’s consultant team found that pitching work was incomplete, and RE panels were installed too high.Water seepage weakened the soil, causing the RE panels to fail.A new Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared to convert the road into a six-lane bypass in future. Company blacklisted for 3 years The project began in November 2010 and finished in 2012–13, with a 15-year contract period.However, due to non-compliance, the firm’s contract was cancelled in 2020, and it was blacklisted for three years. Over Rs 100 crore spent on road repairs in 3 years During the Global Investors Summit (GIS) in February, Rs 65 crore was spent improving Bhopal’s roads.Additionally, the PWD, Municipal Corporation, and Bhopal Development Authority spend Rs 8–10 crore each year on maintenance.In total, over Rs 100 crore has been spent in just three years, yet the city’s roads remain in poor condition.