Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav inaugurated Bhopal Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) new Rs 73-crore headquarters ‘Atal Bhawan’ in Tulsi Nagar marking a major step towards modernising the city’s administrative landscape on Thursday. Alongside the new hub, the Chief Minister also launched a Rs 45 crore solar power plant in Neemuch, signaling a strong push for green energy and sustainable urban development. During a tour of the newly constructed eight-storey facility, Dr Yadav emphasised that Bhopal’s rapid expansion requires a transition into a true metropolitan city. Atal Bhawan is designed to meet this demand by housing all civic departments under one roof, streamlining governance for residents. The building is a massive 2.15 lakh sq. ft. “green” structure, featuring innovative geo-thermal cooling instead of traditional ACs and its own 300 KW rooftop solar plant. The event also highlighted a significant financial win for the city. Mayor Malti Rai explained that newly inaugurated Neemuch solar plant will supply electricity to BMC at just Rs 3.47 per unit for next 25 years.

 

This is nearly half the current rate of Rs 6.14, a move expected to save the corporation approximately Rs 4 crore annually. CM Dr Yadav noted that the State has made massive strides in energy, now generating nearly 25,000 MW and expanding irrigation by 10 lakh hectares. House allotment letters distributed: The Chief Minister distributed house allotment letters and keys to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and provided loan assistance to street vendors through the PM SVANidhi scheme. Also comprehensive PPE kits were distributed—including reflective jackets, helmets, and masks—to sanitation workers. In a touch of local appreciation, he directed a Rs 5,000 reward for the shehnai musicians who performed at the ceremony. While Atal Bhawan is already a modern marvel—boasting six elevators, a dedicated kids’ play area, and centralised service counters—a dedicated council hall is still in the works. Following a request from Mayor Malti Rai, the Chief Minister instructed officials to expedite land allocation, suggesting the hall be developed in the building’s frontal area.