Rain spell exposes defects on Ambedkar Setu and city service roads
BHOPAL: Heavy showers this week have left roads across the city in a poor state, with the surface layer of the 2.75 LKm Ambedkar Setu (GG Flyover) reportedly coming off at several places and numerous stretches developing large and small potholes. The structure, which links Gayatri Mandir in MP Nagar to Ganesh Mandir in Arera Colony, had been criticised for construction quality soon after its inauguration in January 2025.
Municipal and PWD sources said areas including Karond, Khejda, Chhola and Udiya Basti experienced flooding, while the worst-hit stretches were those where Metro works, Amrit-2.0 projects and laying of cement-concrete (CC) roads are underway. Residents and engineers noted that the tar and wearing coat have peeled away at multiple points on the flyover, exposing gravel and reinforcement below.
“At one or two places, the wearing coat has come off and at some places the asphalt surface has given way, what we call ravelling. We shall get it repaired after the rains stop. The contractor has done some temporary repairs but it will not work, I know,”
said Gopal Singh, CEO, bridge division, PWD, Bhopal.
The flyover, inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on 23 January 2025, was described in reports as having been constructed at a cost of over ₹150 crore. Immediately after the inauguration, parts of the road surface had come off; at that time an assistant engineer and a sub-engineer were placed under suspension and notices were issued to the executive engineer and chief engineer of the bridge division. Repairs were carried out then, but officials acknowledge those were insufficient in the face of renewed rains.
City engineers said the service roads that connect housing colonies to main arteries suffered the most. Newly built CC roads such as the one in Kolar gave the appearance of improved infrastructure from the main road, but internal colony service lanes have degraded markedly, affecting last-mile connectivity for residents.
- Major localities reporting flooding or road damage: Karond, Khejda, Chhola, Udiya Basti, Kolar, Chuna Bhatti.
- Primary concerns: peeling wearing coat on the flyover, exposed gravel and iron bars, ravelling of asphalt, widespread potholes on service roads.
- Administrative response: temporary repairs by contractor; formal repairs to be undertaken after rains subside, according to PWD.
Officials say the damage was concentrated where ongoing civic works intersect with traffic corridors. Metro construction, Amrit-2.0 projects and recent road upgrades have left temporary worksites and service lanes vulnerable to surface washouts. PWD sources indicated that while temporary patchwork has been undertaken by the contractor, a more permanent fix will be scheduled once the weather permits.
| Item | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Flyover length | 2.75 LKm |
| Reported cost | ₹150 crore (reported) |
| Inauguration date | 23 January 2025 |
Local residents expressed frustration at recurrent problems on newly built stretches. Several said service lanes inside colonies are in particularly poor condition, adding to travel time and vehicle wear. Civic activists and commuters have previously questioned the design and quality control measures adopted for the flyover and associated roadworks.
For Bhopal, the incident underscores broader challenges in urban infrastructure delivery and resilience to extreme weather. Engineers point to the need for stronger quality assurance during construction, better drainage planning alongside road works, and timely maintenance regimes. The convergence of large-scale projects such as Metro works and Amrit-2.0 with existing city traffic has added complexity to maintenance and emergency response.
Authorities have said assessments will continue and comprehensive repairs will be carried out once the rains cease. In the interim, motorists have been advised to exercise caution on the affected stretches and use alternative routes where possible.
