Archive · 1 Oct 2026
BMC Reworks Sealing Policy as Bhopal Plan Opens Regularisation Window
Bhopal is preparing a new city development plan for 2047.
The plan may allow some older businesses in residential areas to become officially approved.
This would apply only to businesses that meet specific rules.
Owners would need to pay fees and meet parking, infrastructure and planning requirements.
They would have one year to apply after the final plan is officially announced.
New illegal commercial construction would not be allowed under this proposal.
Some places, such as green areas, water bodies and unauthorised colonies, would be excluded.
The municipal corporation says it will change its sealing action while following Supreme Court directions.
Bhopal Municipal Corporation will revise its approach to sealing non-residential establishments in residential areas.
The draft Bhopal Development Plan 2047 proposes limited regularisation for eligible existing non-residential activities.
Eligible property owners would receive one year to complete regularisation after the final plan is notified.
Eligibility depends on factors including prior non-residential use, applicable property-tax payments and non-residential electricity connections.
Permitted activities and fees would depend on road width, planning requirements, parking and infrastructure conditions.
- Who
- The Bhopal Municipal Corporation, eligible property owners and non-residential establishments in residential areas.
- What
- BMC will rework its sealing approach in light of proposed regularisation provisions in the draft Bhopal Development Plan 2047.
- When
- The draft was released on September 26, and eligible owners would have one year to regularise after notification of the final plan.
- Where
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, particularly developed residential areas.
- Why
- To align municipal action with the draft development plan and Supreme Court directions while regulating eligible existing non-residential uses.
- Plan
- Draft Bhopal Development Plan 2047
- Draft release
- Published in the Madhya Pradesh Gazette and released on September 26
- Regularisation window
- One year after notification of the final development plan
- Main fee
- 20% of the difference between commercial and residential collector guideline rates
- Road-width rule
- Road width would determine which non-residential activities may operate in residential areas
- Use limit
- Non-residential use would generally be limited to 50% of the maximum permissible FAR
- Exclusions
- New residential areas, unauthorised colonies, unapproved buildings, encroached open spaces or parking, green areas, water bodies, forest areas and proposed road alignments