Bhopal Municipal Corporation to Rework Sealing Policy Under New Development Plan
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation plans to rework its sealing policy for non-residential establishments operating in residential areas, aligning with the draft Bhopal Development Plan 2047 and Supreme Court directives. The draft, published in the Madhya Pradesh Gazette on September 26, provides a limited regularisation framework for eligible existing non-residential activities, subject to payment of prescribed fees and compliance with planning, parking, and infrastructure requirements.
The draft offers eligible property owners a one-year window to complete regularisation after the final development plan is notified. Regularisation is restricted to premises where non-residential use existed before the draft's publication, property tax was paid at non-residential rates, and electricity connections were obtained for non-residential purposes. The framework excludes unauthorised construction, newly developed residential areas, unauthorised colonies, and buildings without permission.
The policy links permissible non-residential activities to road width. Roads below 12 metres would primarily allow residential and professional activities on one floor. Wider roads permit commercial activities such as banks, medical stores, restaurants, and showrooms, with non-residential use generally restricted to 50% of maximum permitted area.
