Bhopal Municipal Corporation Master Plan Relief Only From 2028

Bhopal Municipal Corporation's (BMC) sealing drive may leave traders waiting until at least 2028 for significant relief, according to urban planning experts and officials of the Town and Country Planning (T&CP) Department and BMC. The implementation of the long-pending Bhopal Master Plan is expected to begin only in that year, with relief likely to follow soon after.

Experts estimate the city could take four to five years to fully streamline after the plan's implementation. The sealing drive has been a major challenge for traders, particularly those operating commercial activities from residential properties. BMC Deputy Commissioner Bhuvan Gupta highlighted that merely commercializing these spaces would not resolve issues related to Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and parking.

Parking has emerged as the biggest problem, with many buildings lacking adequate parking facilities, forcing customers and visitors to park on roads outside neighboring houses. The Master Plan should not focus solely on creating large commercial hubs, according to Prof. Krishna Kumar Dhote from MANIT Department of Architecture and Planning.

Instead, smaller commercial centers should be developed within neighborhoods to reduce the need for long-distance travel. The plan should also include a vision for 2047. Different types of commercial activities should be rationally categorized, with essential services permitted in residential areas but larger gathering spots requiring stricter planning due to parking concerns.

The government is working on preparing the new Master Plan and will discuss options with top lawyers in Delhi to find a middle path that provides relief to traders while complying with legal requirements.