Bhopal’s Rs 48-crore flyover between Aashima Mall and Bawadia Kalan is expected to cut up to five kilometres from some journeys and provide a second connection between Narmadapuram Road and the city’s expanding southern suburbs. Construction is expected to begin within two months, according to officials of the Public Works Department’s bridge construction division.
The 1.18-km flyover will start near Aashima Mall on Narmadapuram Road, pass across Bawadia Gaon and connect to the main road near SAGE Apollo Hospital. It is intended to ease pressure on the existing railway overbridge connecting Hoshangabad Road to Bawadia Kalan near Vidya Nagar.
The existing route carries traffic from a large and rapidly developing residential belt that includes Bawadia Kalan, Aakriti Eco City, Salaiya, Kolar and adjoining colonies. Increasing housing development and vehicular movement have placed additional pressure on the road network, with congestion reported to be particularly acute during peak hours.
Project details show that the proposed structure will be approximately 1,183 metres long and 15.5 metres wide. The main bridge will account for around 733 metres, while approach roads and service roads will extend for approximately 400 metres on either side. The new link is expected to provide an alternative to the current route and reduce dependence on the existing railway overbridge.
PWD officials said project formalities had been completed and that work was expected to begin on the ground in less than two months. The project is targeted for completion before the 2028 Assembly elections, although the supplied report does not specify a detailed construction schedule or interim milestones.
The project was reviewed at a meeting on Wednesday, where state minister Krishna Gaur expressed displeasure over the delay and directed officials to expedite the work. Gaur also stressed coordination between departments and instructed officials to ensure that faster execution did not compromise construction quality.
The proposed flyover is aimed at improving connectivity between Kolar and Narmadapuram Road while reducing delays around traffic bottlenecks and railway crossings. For residents of the southern suburbs, the immediate test will be whether the project moves from completed paperwork to physical construction within the promised two-month window.
