The ambitious relocation of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) offices to its newly-constructed headquarters has hit a major roadblock. Despite the scheduled transition beginning this Monday, the shifting process has been hampered by non-functional elevators, incomplete computer networking, and unresolved disputes regarding cabin allotments for members of the Mayor-in-Council (MIC). As of Wednesday, only the Electricity Department has successfully transferred its operations and staff to the new premises. While personnel from the Pension and Public Relations departments inspected their designated areas, they expressed hesitation over the current state of the building. Departments assigned to the upper reaches - specifically floors five through eight - have formally refused to relocate until the lift systems are fully operational.

 

The sprawling complex, featuring a basement, ground floor, and an eight-storey central block, currently lacks basic amenities. Observers noted thick layers of dust on staircases and furniture remains stacked haphazardly in the corridors. Although the Revenue Department has been assigned the third floor, its workspace remains far from ready for daily operations. New floor plan and governance structure In a departure from previous arrangements, Commissioner Harendra Narayan’s office has been moved to the top floor, separating it from the Mayor’s office on the first floor. MIC members will now have their cabins located on the same floors as their respective departments to streamline administration.

 

Building layout, department allocation l Ground Floor: Public Service Centre (Lok Seva Kendra) for citizen-centric services. l 1st Floor: Chambers for Mayor Malti Rai, Council President Kishan Singh Suryavanshi, and Leader of Opposition Shabista Zaki. l 2nd Floor: Social Justice, Samagra ID, Marriage Registration, and Birth-Death Certification branches. l 3rd Floor: Finance and Information Technology (IT) departments. l 4th Floor: Exclusively reserved for the Water Works Department. l 5th to 7th floors: Building permission, Engineering, Horticulture (Garden), Health, and Sanitation departments. l 8th Floor: Offices of the Commissioner, Establishment Department, and Public Relations Officer (PRO). The new headquarters also houses a specialised mini-hall with a seating capacity of 250. While officials admit the hall is too small to host a full Council meeting, it is expected to serve as a primary venue for general administrative briefings and departmental programmes.