Eight years on, Bhopal smart city still in pipeline

21 Sep 2023 CW Team

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.

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.

Real Estate

08 May 2026

Integrated Waterproofing Strategies

Waterproofing buildings used to be an annual pre-monsoon affair but the evolution of real-estate development has changed that approach. In new developments, developers are weaving waterproofing solutions into both the design and construction phases, an approach that Nikhil Madan, Managing Director, Mahima Group, says, “is all about ensuring lasting durability [of the building] and keeping lifecycle risks including water seepage and extensive maintenance to a minimum.”Watertight by designAluminium formwork systems aren’t commonly thought of as a waterproofing tool but at the Mahima Group,..

Infrastructure Urban

08 May 2026

GROHE Showcases Water-Led Design At Milan

GROHE unveiled its GROHE SPA Aqua Sanctuary at Milan Design Week 2026, transforming Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato into an immersive showcase of water, design and wellbeing. Built on the philosophy of ‘Wellbeing Through Water’, the installation reimagined bathrooms as holistic spaces for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-care.The Aqua Sanctuary was presented through three interconnected sanctums. The first showcased the 3D-printed GROHE SPA AquaTree shower and faucet, highlighting bespoke innovation and biophilic design. The second featured the Atrio Private Collection and GROHE SPA x Buster..

Infrastructure Transport

08 May 2026

Rahee Group Expands Rail Manufacturing Capacity

Rahee Group has outlined a multi-year investment roadmap to expand its operational footprint and strengthen manufacturing capabilities for India’s growing railway and urban transit sector. The Group is expanding in Odisha with a new Track Component Casting Unit, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8 April 2026 in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.The Group’s flagship EPC arm, Rahee Infratech Ltd, continues to focus on complex rail infrastructure projects, including track systems, bridges, viaducts and ballastless infrastructure. Its wholly owned subsidi..