09 Mar 2026

The proposed master plans for Bhopal and Indore have been placed on hold as the Madhya Pradesh government moves to finalise broader metropolitan region planning under the newly enacted Madhya Pradesh Metropolitan Region Planning and Development Act, 2025, a senior minister informed the state assembly in the past week. Although draft master plans for both cities were completed about 18 months ago, they may be reworked to align with regional strategies envisaged for the two metropolitan clusters, which include surrounding districts such as Ujjain, Dewas and Dhar for Indore and Sehore, Raisen and Vidisha for Bhopal. The pause reflects a policy shift towards integrated regional planning and comes amid concerns that outdated or delayed planning frameworks have hindered urban development and investment confidence in the state's largest cities. Officials indicated that specialised metropolitan planning committees and authorities will now prepare cohesive, area-specific development plans.Read more

19 Feb 2026

A prominent hotel property in Bhopal the MPT Lake View Residency Hotel on Shyamla Hills overlooking the Upper Lake is set to be demolished and redeveloped into a modern five-star hotel with a convention centre under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism (MPT) Corporation has awarded redevelopment rights to a consortium led by Genex Hotels Pvt Ltd, Dilip Buildcon Ltd and Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), which will form a special purpose vehicle to design, build, finance and operate the new facility over a long-term concession. Plans include a luxury hotel with approximately 150 rooms and extensive event space aimed at boosting Bhopal's tourism appeal and positioning the city as a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination. The project is expected to be completed within about three years.Read more

03 Feb 2026

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a detailed investigation into pollution complaints from residents of Tulsi Tower in Shivaji Nagar, Bhopal, linked to the nearby Tulsi Green construction project. Residents have reported excessive dust, noise at night, open dumping of construction materials, and untreated wastewater affecting health and living conditions. The NGT has constituted a joint committee and asked the Madhya Pradesh government, the developer, and the MP Pollution Control Board to submit responses within four weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for late February.Read more

12 Jan 2026

Bhopal Metro's Orange Line corridor has seen a notable drop in passenger numbers after the operator revised its schedule earlier this week. The new timetable delayed the first service to noon, reduced daily trips from 17 to 13, and fixed a frequency of 75 minutes between trains. On the first day under this plan, only 434 passengers boarded, down from an initial daily average of around 2,800. Metro authorities said the change aligns services with actual demand, but limited hours and fewer trips have clearly affected commuter convenience and ridership trends.Read more

Visakhapatnam News Desk

11 Jan 2026

Bhopal's SCADA-based water monitoring project, planned under the Smart City programme, continues to fall short of its objective of real-time water quality and distribution monitoring. Despite most overhead tanks being connected, the system's first phase remains incomplete, limiting its ability to detect contamination or supply disruptions. The recent drinking water crisis in Indore has brought renewed focus on these gaps. Past audits and studies had already flagged weaknesses in urban water testing and infrastructure, issues that remain unresolved in Bhopal's water management system.Read more

14 Dec 2025

The Bhopal Metro will launch its first phase using physical tokens for ticketing, with passengers buying tokens at station counters and tapping them at entry gates. The initial 7 km stretch includes eight stations, while the full 16 km corridor from Karond to AIIMS Bhopal will open in stages. Once complete, a Common Mobility Card will allow cashless travel on the metro and city buses through UPI. Fares are expected to range between INR 10 and INR 20. Coaches will include reserved seating for women and people with disabilities. Staff will assist commuters during the rollout, ensuring smooth travel as the system transitions toward integrated digital mobility.Read more

09 Dec 2025

Ahead of the Bhopal Metro launch, the BMC conducted a large-scale anti-encroachment drive, targeting illegal shops, street stalls, and obstructive structures across multiple localities. Items seized included carts, stools, tables, signboards, lights, and iron frames. The drive focused on areas along the metro route, including the AIIMS approach road, Ashoka Garden, Jawahar Chowk, Bhadbhada Road, and Hamidia Road, aiming to improve pedestrian movement and traffic flow. This operation is part of a series of enforcement actions by BMC over the past year to maintain clear public spaces and support metro development.Read more

06 Dec 2025

The Bhopal Metro is set to begin operations on December 13, starting with the Subhash Nagar to AIIMS corridor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the service, followed by a week of free rides for residents. The metro has received all required regulatory approvals, and fares will start from INR?10 after the free period. Trains will run from 8?AM to 8?PM, initially with two three-coach trains. The design emphasizes accessibility, including braille-enabled coaches and seating for differently-abled passengers, providing a safe, fast, and modern commuting option.Read more

27 Oct 2025

In a significant development for Ahmedabad's real estate sector, Resset Group has acquired a 3-acre prime land parcel in South Bopal through its Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for approximately INR 42 crore, with an additional INR 2.5 crore paid in stamp duty. The site, located near the proposed Olympic 2036 Village, is set to house a premium residential and retail project offering 2 and 3 BHK units. The development will feature contemporary designs, sustainable architecture, and a Singapore-inspired landscape by Studio Black Smith, reinforcing Resset's focus on innovation and community-centric planning.Read more

21 Oct 2025

Bhopal Metro is entering its final phase before starting public operations, with the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) conducting final inspections on the priority corridor. The focus is on eight key stations linking Subhash Nagar Depot to AIIMS Bhopal. Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) has completed most infrastructure work and is now finalizing safety systems, passenger amenities, and aesthetic enhancements. Once the CMRS approvals are obtained, the metro is set to provide a modern, efficient urban transport option, enhancing connectivity across the city.Read more

09 Oct 2025

Bhopal Metro is set to launch its priority corridor from AIIMS to Subhash Nagar Depot next month, spanning 7.5 km with eight stations and speeds up to 80 km/h. The project incorporates advanced noise and vibration reduction measures, including rubber padding under tracks, acrylic barriers, foam-insulated track-switch mechanisms, and vibration-reduction mats. Trains will slow near sensitive zones, and depot equipment will remain quiet within "pack houses." MPMRCL plans to invest INR 1.2 crore to assess these initiatives, while inspections by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety are underway to approve passenger services.Read more

17 Sep 2025

Land acquisition for Bhopal Metro's Orange Line is gaining pace as more landowners opt for the Mutual Purchase Policy under Madhya Pradesh's Aapsi Kharid Niti - 2014. So far, 40 property owners have consented, ensuring compensation within two months and avoiding lengthy acquisition disputes. Owners of structures will be reimbursed for buildings, while landholders will receive double the collectorate rate. In areas where consent hasn't been given, acquisition is moving forward through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, with objection periods now closing. With three acquisition notifications issued and final surveys planned, the project is advancing smoothly, signalling reduced resistance and steady progress for metro development.Read more

04 Sep 2025

SEBI conducted a Municipal Bond Outreach Programme in Bhopal to guide Urban Local Bodies on using municipal bonds for financing urban infrastructure. The sessions covered investor expectations, regulatory requirements, and procedures for issuing bonds. SEBI also highlighted its e-learning course on municipal bonds developed with the World Bank. Madhya Pradesh officials stressed the need for strong financial management, revenue-focused projects, and staff training. Following a similar programme in Thiruvananthapuram, SEBI continues to support ULBs in adopting municipal bonds as a reliable funding tool for urban development.Read more

07 Aug 2025

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a stop to all illegal commercial activities in Bhopal's Arera Colony (E-1 to E-5), a residential zone. Petitioners highlighted lease and planning violations caused by rising commercial setups like shops and restaurants. Notices have been sent to concerned government departments, and they have been instructed to respond within four weeks. The court also ordered that no new non-domestic electricity connections be issued, and no further construction take place until the matter is decided.Read more

22 Jul 2025

Bhopal is set to roll out a major upgrade to its Sampada 2 platform, allowing homebuyers to register both sale deeds and mortgage documents in a single digital appointment. This eliminates the need for separate visits and streamlines the entire property registration process. Users will receive final documents in PDF format, reducing paperwork and in-person collection. The system will auto-link sale and loan records, with future plans for Aadhaar-based eKYC and digital payments. Part of a wider national move toward digitised land records, this reform supports faster, transparent transactions and benefits buyers, banks, and real estate developers alike.Read more

30 Jun 2025

The municipal government has kicked off an ambitious urban renewal effort by relocating nine slum clusters from Bhopal's city centre to sites within a 3-5 km radius. Around 14,000 permanent homes will be built via a Public-Private Partnership on government land. This move part of the wider Jhuggi Mukt Bhopal Yojana aims to free up 125 acres in the heart of the city and revamp living standards across 388 slums impacting 150,000 households. It follows previous survey efforts and on-site redevelopment plans near high-security zones that were abandoned to avoid security issues.Read more

26 Jun 2025

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation has flagged over 1,200 buildings as structurally unsafe-up from 450 last year-prompting evacuation notices to around 700 households, especially in old city areas like Aishbagh. Legal disputes over property rights and political pushback have stalled repairs and demolitions, even as monsoon risks loom. Many unsafe buildings obstruct stormwater channels or sit atop drainage lines, worsening flood management in a city already prone to waterlogging. Experts warn that unchecked urbanisation and encroachments over historical water bodies have left Bhopal ill-equipped for seasonal rains. Despite annual warnings, slow enforcement and infrastructure neglect continue to hinder meaningful action.Read more

23 May 2025

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the first phase of the Indore Metro Rail project along with the newly developed Datia and Satna airports during his visit to Bhopal later this week. The announcement was made by Madhya Pradesh's Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya, following a state cabinet meeting. The Prime Minister is also expected to participate in a large-scale women's empowerment programme coinciding with the 300th birth anniversary of Malwa queen Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. Nearly two lakh women are expected to attend the celebration, marking it as a significant cultural and infrastructural milestone for the state.Read more