Eight years on, Bhopal smart city still in pipeline

Eight years into its mission, the Bhopal Smart City Development Corporation Limited (BSCDCL) remains focused on land monetisation as a key strategy for achieving self-sustainability. Despite having generated an estimated Rs 300 crore from the sale of plots in the Area Based Development (ABD) region, the smart city project's aspirations still seem distant.One concerning issue that has emerged over the years is the increasing encroachment in TT Nagar, where government housing land evictions have given way to the emergence of slums. The promised smart city amenities, including the installation of over 20,000 LED lights, have failed to materialize in this area. Notably, a nearly kilometer-long street near a tourism development property is adorned with street poles but lacks the necessary illumination. BSCDCL has redirected responsibility for this issue to the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), leaving residents frustrated.BSCDCL released a green and blue master plan following opposition to the smart city development in Shivaji Nagar. The plan claimed that 50% of the ABD area would be reserved for green spaces. However, this vision clashed with reality when hundreds of trees, some towering between 70 to 100 meters in height, were mercilessly chopped down within the core development zone. Surprisingly, despite the removal of these trees, the plots in the area remain vacant. BSCDCL insists that it complies with green norms, but the loss of green cover has left a bitter taste for many city residents.To date, BSCDCL has generated an estimated Rs 300 crore from the sale of plots in the ABD area, constituting around 30% of the 42 plots that have attracted interest from developers, builders, investors, and real estate agencies. However, the post-pandemic period has not been without its share of controversies surrounding plot sales.The dream of a truly smart city in Bhopal continues to face significant challenges, with issues such as encroachment, unfulfilled promises, and environmental concerns casting shadows over the project's progress. Residents eagerly await solutions to these persistent problems while hoping that their aspirations for a smarter, greener city will eventually be realized.