Bhopal Development Plan 2031: Amendments Made to FAR and Mixed Use for Special Residential Areas

The Bhopal Development Plan 2031 has seen some amendments to the parameters of FAR (floor area ratio) and mixed use activities within special residential areas such as Arera Colony, Chuna Bhatti and Vijay Nagar. The previous plan, Bhopal Development Plan 2005, identified these areas as Special Residential Areas and established development parameters for them that took into account the available urban infrastructure. Amendments were required as an initial draft was seen to propose mixed use activities and higher FAR parameters that were not appropriate for these settings. As such, the mixed use activities and FAR parameters have been amended accordingly. In the initial draft of the plan, a densely populated area was proposed for a low density residential area located near Hathaikheda dam. However, this land was reserved for a green belt area in the 2005 plan and has subsequently been kept as such. The initial proposal for mixed use permissions in all roads of 12 meters or wider was amended to require a road breadth of 18 meters to maintain the integrity of residential areas. The amended plan has also proposed the breadth of rural roads to also be 18 meters. A proposed 60 meter broad road from Kolar road to Bilkisganj has also been amended to reduce disruptions. Where roads run along the canal, 15 meter broad routes on either side of the canal have been proposed to improve traffic systems. The amended plan has also established guidelines for village expansion, ensuring the recommendations are balanced to support the Upper Lake ecology and maintain the use of land for agriculture. The amended plan has four main categories: village expansion, residential areas, commercial activities, and public / semi-public areas.