BHOPALis set for a major expansion under the proposed Development Plan-2047, with the planning area widening to 1,016.90 sq km and covering 254 villages. The scale-up from the previous plan’s 601 sq km and 146 villages puts the focus on whether infrastructure, drainage, open spaces and water systems can keep pace with the city’s growth. Residential use gets half the area:Nearly 50% of the proposed land use is earmarked for residential development, while 27% is designated as green areas. The expansion will increase the demand for roads, water supply, sewage networks, drainage and other civic infrastructure across the enlarged planning area. Ahmedabad offers land management model: Ahmedabad’s AUDA-2041 plan uses town planning schemes to readjust land and create space for roads, open areas, utilities and social infrastructure. However, studies have also highlighted challenges including delays, financial constraints and resistance from landowners. For Bhopal, the expansion will require clearer planning for mixed land use based on road widths and local infrastructure needs. Delhi emphasises blue-green network:Delhi’s draft MPD-2047 gives greater emphasis to bluegreen infrastructure by linking drains, water bodies, wetlands and green areas. It also seeks to integrate water supply, sewage, drainage, mobility, parking and transit-oriented development. A key feature is the attempt to coordinate responsibilities across different agencies. Hyderabad focuses on lake catchments:Hyderabad’s HADA2031 includes provisions extending lake protection beyond the water bodies themselves.

 

The framework covers lake catchments, demarcation of Full Tank Levels, removal of encroachments and measures to prevent sewage from entering lakes. The approach highlights the need to protect the wider catchment supporting a water body. Bengaluru shows risks of urbanisation: Rapid urbanisation in Bengaluru has increased pressure on lakes, drains and sewage systems. A CAG report has highlighted issues including encroachments, pollution and the loss of connectivity between water bodies. The experience underscores the importance of protecting lakes and drainage networks before urban expansion puts further pressure on them. Bhojtal key to Bhopal’s water security: Bhojtal remains central to Bhopal’s water security and ecological system. Studies have estimated its catchment at between 305 and 361 sq km and identified concerns including declining groundwater levels, pollution, encroachments and deterioration of ecological services. Protecting the wider hydrological system will therefore be important as the city expands. Protection must cover entire catchment: Water-body protection in Bhopal will need to extend beyond lake boundaries and buffer zones to the wider catchment. Drains, natural drainage channels, lakes and surrounding green areas need to be treated as an interconnected network in the development plan. Securing this network before new development expands could help reduce future water and environmental pressures. Implementation will determine plan’s impact:The experiences of Ahmedabad’s land readjustment model, Delhi’s bluegreen network, Hyderabad’s catchment-based lake protection and Bengaluru’s urban water challenges offer different lessons for Bhopal. The impact of Development Plan-2047 will depend on how effectively roads, sewage, drainage, open spaces and water-body protection are integrated with the city’s new development areas.