Lagging: 75 days after nod, MP govt yet to frame rules as Metropolitan project awaits authority body

Bhopal: The work under the Madhya Pradesh Metropolitan Region Planning and Development Act 2025 is progressing at a slow pace.

Over 75 days after being cleared in the state assembly on Aug 5, the govt is yet to frame the rules of the Metropolitan Region Planning and Development Act and form development authority and committees for the purpose.

The act aims for comprehensive regional development of metropolitan areas of Bhopal and Indore. In the work done so far, Indore is slightly ahead of Bhopal but by only a few metaphorical miles. The Indore Development Authority has hired a consultant and received a report to define the area in the metropolitan region. On the other hand, the Bhopal Development Authority , which is doing the same for Bhopal, has only just finalised the consultant, said a senior urban administration and development official. The official added that once the rules are notified, work under the Metropolitan Region Planning and Development Act would officially start.

Officials said MP Metropolitan Region Planning and Development rules were expected to be framed in the next few months. On May 20, the MP cabinet approved the Madhya Pradesh Metropolitan Region Planning and Development Act 2025 for the formation of metropolitan planning committees and metropolitan region development authorities. Two major regions identified for this were Indore-Ujjain-Dewas-Dhar and Bhopal-Sehore-Raisen-Vidisha-Biaora (Rajgarh). The authorities were supposed to prepare and implement development plans tailored to the geographic and economic needs of each metropolitan area. CM Yadav had earlier announced the formation of "metropolitan planning committees" and "metropolitan region development authorities."