The Madhya Pradesh government has published the draft of the Bhopal Development Plan 2047 on 26 September 2026, inviting citizens to submit claims, objections, and suggestions on the master plan. The document lays out a sweeping urban vision for Bhopal, prioritising environmental conservation, employment generation, traffic management, and improved civic amenities over the next two decades.

Scale and Scope of the Plan

The plan covers an investment area of 1,016.90 square kilometres, encompassing 254 villages, and is designed to accommodate an estimated population of approximately 45 lakh. The proposed developable area is 61,017.02 hectares. It rests on four foundational pillars: conservation of the natural environment, modern and citizen-friendly development, promoting necessary urban change, and increasing employment and economic activity.

Growth Corridor and EKAI City

Around 3,000 hectares of land has been earmarked for a dedicated growth corridor. A 51-kilometre-long corridor will connect suburbs including the proposed EKAI (Education, Knowledge and Artificial Intelligence) City, the airport, a proposed CMU, logistics zones, and wholesale trade areas. The corridor is designed to host hotels, health services, IT and AI data centres, logistics hubs, hypermarkets, malls, multiplexes, corporate offices, education institutions, and housing — with mixed-use and high-density development at its core. An EKAI City is specifically planned in the Bhaunri area to concentrate education and AI-related institutions.

Green Cover, Environment and Heritage

In the earlier Bhopal Master Plan 2005, green area stood at roughly 16 per cent. The new plan proposes raising this to approximately 27 per cent. Open area at the colony level is proposed to increase from 10 per cent to 12 per cent. Special emphasis has been placed on preserving Bhojtal and its catchment area, hills, forests, ponds, reservoirs, and tiger reserve zones. A golf course has been suggested for the redevelopment of Bhanpur Khanti.

Transport, Parking and Smart Infrastructure

A Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor is planned for public transport, with provision for future conversion to a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS). The corridor will also extend connectivity to Vidisha, Raisen, Narmadapuram, and Indore. Mixed land use has been proposed, permitting commercial activity alongside residential use depending on road width, along with greater relaxation of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and building height norms on wider roads. Multilevel and mechanised parking — including under community open areas, rail overbridges, and flyovers — will be promoted, with joint use of land for basement parking allowed.

A Digital Twin City system is proposed for real-time monitoring of development and construction activities to curb illegal construction and manage traffic. Security provisions include networking private CCTV cameras at public places, transparent boundary walls for public buildings, and safer traffic arrangements. Charitable activities such as orphanages, special schools, nursing homes, and night shelters will be permitted across various land-use zones.

Government's Position and Next Steps

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in a post on X that landowners will receive compensation while developers will have access to additional development facilities — framing the plan as an initiative toward building a prosperous, accessible, and developed Bhopal. He urged citizens to review the draft and submit their objections and suggestions. After the public feedback window closes, the plan's finalisation process will proceed based on the responses received.