📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Imanushkasingh
Local
Citizens March in Bhopal Demanding Master Plan; MLA Arif Masood Questions Delay
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 09 Sep 2026, 02:47 PM
👁 21
Residents of Bhopal staged a run for a master plan, urging the state government to approve it after two decades, while MLA Arif Masood highlighted that neighboring Ujjain already has one.
Earlier this week, a large crowd of Bhopal residents gathered on the city streets for a "Run for Master Plan" to press the state government for the long‑awaited urban development blueprint. Participants carried placards and chanted slogans calling for immediate action, emphasizing that the city has been without a comprehensive master plan for nearly twenty years.
During the rally, local legislator Arif Masood addressed the gathering, questioning why the neighboring city of Ujjain has already secured a master plan while Bhopal remains stalled. He urged the authorities to expedite the process, stating that the delay hampers infrastructure growth and urban planning.
Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, has faced criticism from planners and citizens alike for the prolonged absence of a master plan, which is essential for regulated land use, transportation, and public services. The contrast with Ujjain, which received its plan recently, has intensified calls for parity.
Government officials have not yet issued a formal response to the protest, but the demonstration underscores growing public pressure for the state to prioritize Bhopal's urban framework.
The event reflects a broader trend of civic activism in Indian cities, where residents increasingly demand transparent and timely urban planning from their governments.
During the rally, local legislator Arif Masood addressed the gathering, questioning why the neighboring city of Ujjain has already secured a master plan while Bhopal remains stalled. He urged the authorities to expedite the process, stating that the delay hampers infrastructure growth and urban planning.
Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, has faced criticism from planners and citizens alike for the prolonged absence of a master plan, which is essential for regulated land use, transportation, and public services. The contrast with Ujjain, which received its plan recently, has intensified calls for parity.
Government officials have not yet issued a formal response to the protest, but the demonstration underscores growing public pressure for the state to prioritize Bhopal's urban framework.
The event reflects a broader trend of civic activism in Indian cities, where residents increasingly demand transparent and timely urban planning from their governments.