MP CM unveils Bhopal Master Plan 2047, proposes 254 villages, higher green cover

On Saturday, the Madhya Pradesh government unveiled the draft Bhopal Master Plan 2047, aiming to expand the capital's planning area to encompass 254 neighboring villages and accommodate a population of 4.5 million. The plan outlines a development pattern with 43.85% of the 61,017 hectares of developable land designated for residential use, 27% for green spaces, 9.53% for transport infrastructure, and 8% for public areas.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the plan, emphasizing its role in boosting the city's economy while preserving ecological balance.

Kaushlendra Vikram Singh, the Town and Country Planning commissioner, explained that the master plan serves as a roadmap for Bhopal's structured growth until 2047. The plan advocates for mixed land use strategies, regulated by road width, while safeguarding residential areas, the environment, and the city's unique character. The government has assured the Supreme Court that the plan will not be formalized without its approval, as the apex court is currently hearing a case concerning the sealing of commercial properties in Bhopal.

The draft plan is based on four core principles: conservation of the natural ecosystem, a forward-thinking and citizen-centric approach, reform-driven planning, and sustainable economic development.

The cornerstone of the plan is a 51-km-long growth corridor designed to foster an investment-friendly environment. This corridor will link key locations such as the EKAI City at Bhauri, the airport, the proposed City Municipal Unit (CMU), logistics and warehousing hubs, and various townships. The corridor will feature high-density, mixed-use development with no restrictions on Floor Area Ratio (FAR), allowing for hotels, hospitals, IT and AI facilities, logistics, hypermarkets, malls, corporate offices, and residential complexes.

Additionally, a BRT corridor is envisioned, with potential upgrades to a metro system in the future. The draft also proposes widening the outer bypass with a 50-meter green belt on either side.

To enhance Bhopal's green cover, the plan aims to increase the green area from 16% in the 2005 master plan to 27% by 2047, surpassing the URDPFI standards. Residential zones will incorporate 12% open spaces, a significant improvement from the 2005 plan's 8%. Unlike the previous plan, which focused on controlling FAR and ground coverage, the new plan permits unlimited FAR and mixed-use development based on road width to stimulate private investment, potentially leading to taller buildings.

The plan aligns with the Bhopal Metropolitan Region, integrating Vidisha, Raisen, Narmadapuram, and Indore roads through the growth corridor.

The master plan was conceived based on four pillars: conservation of the natural ecosystem, a modern and citizen-friendly approach, reforms-driven planning, and self-sustainable, economy-boosting development. A key feature is the 51-km-long growth corridor, envisioned to serve as an investment magnet. It will connect pivotal areas like the EKAI City at Bhauri, the airport, the proposed CMU, logistics hubs, and various townships.

The corridor will prioritize high-density, mixed-use development with unrestricted FAR, accommodating various sectors including hotels, hospitals, IT and AI facilities, logistics, hypermarkets, malls, corporate offices, and residential housing. Furthermore, a BRT corridor is proposed, which may evolve into a metro system in the future.

The outer bypass is envisioned as a greenfield corridor, integrating a 50-meter green belt on both sides.

To preserve Bhopal's natural heritage, hills, forests, lakes, water bodies, and critical tiger movement corridors are protected to safeguard Bhojtal and its catchment. The plan allocates 12% of residential areas as open spaces, a notable increase from the 2005 plan's 8%. Unlike the 2005 plan, which concentrated on managing FAR and ground coverage, the new plan adopts a flexible approach, allowing unrestricted FAR and mixed-use development contingent on road width, aiming to attract private sector investments through the promotion of taller structures.

The plan harmonizes with the Bhopal Metropolitan Region, connecting key areas through the growth corridor. In contrast to the 1975 plan, when Bhopal's area was 240 sq km, the 2005 master plan expanded it to 601.06 sq km, despite only 12,831 hectares being developed, resulting in a population of nearly 1.7 million against the projected 2.5 million.

This discrepancy led to the unauthorized growth of over 1.2 lakh constructions, with 85,000 situated in the Neelbad-Ratibad catchment, as identified by a 2025 satellite survey. Former Director of Urban Administration and Development, C U Roy, commended the plan's dual focus on ecological preservation and mixed development, highlighting the significance of permitting taller buildings as a transformative measure.

He noted that despite inviting objections, the plan will undergo a comprehensive technical survey, and resolving disputes may extend the implementation timeline by a year. With the Supreme Court retaining the final authority, the plan's implementation could span the next two years, providing no immediate respite to traders facing residential area sealings, according to Singh.