Bhopal Municipal Corporation House Passes Property Leasing Proposals Amid Uproar, Traders Protest Licence Fee

Bhopal Municipal Corporation council endorsed proposals to lease and rent vacant municipal properties during a tumultuous meeting on Wednesday. Traders staged a non-violent protest outside the council headquarters against commercial license fees and notices issued for establishments operating in residential zones. Several properties were approved for leasing or renting, such as the PRO section at New Market, building permission office near Shahpura, vacant offices at ISBT, space at Harshvardhan Complex near Mata Mandir, and a portion of the Smart City office at BHEL in Govindpura.

The Smart City proposal, with a monthly rent of Rs 6.98 lakh, faced objections as it was already leased to the corporation by BHEL. The Leader of Opposition, Shabista Zaki, raised concerns about rental restrictions limited to 11 months. The discussion on leasing the vacant space at Atal Bhawan extended the lease period from 30 years to just two years.

The meeting started 50 minutes late. Prior to the agenda, traders submitted a memorandum, and Chamber of Commerce president Govind Goyal was allowed to sit in the council hall. Following heated debates, the House agreed to send a proposal to the state government for the removal of the commercial license fee. Due to ongoing disruption, the chairman halted discussions on action against illegal commercial establishments, stating it was under review by the Supreme Court.

Opposition members approached the chairman's podium, demanding the implementation of the Bhopal Master Plan, questioning why the BMC had been charging commercial fees for years when such activities were now deemed illegal. The proposal to lease the women's Son Chiraiya Hawkers Corner opposite Nutan College was returned to the MIC for reconsideration.

Congress councillor Yogendra Singh Guddu opposed opening tea and snack stalls near the girls' college due to safety and nuisance concerns. Other councillors proposed using the space for events, while Mayor Malti Rai suggested leasing the area with strict conditions against unlawful activities.