Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh):The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to restart its crackdown on commercial establishments operating from residential premises following the recent Supreme Court proceedings.
Fresh notices will be issued across localities including Arera Colony, Rohit Nagar, Bairagarh, Kolar Road, Chunabhatti, Indrapuri, Kohefiza, Lalghati and Ashoka Garden, giving violators a final 10-day deadline to stop commercial activities before enforcement begins.
BMC deputy commissioner Bhuvan Gupta said teams led by additional commissioners and deputy commissioners will conduct surveys in every Assembly constituency to identify encroachments, building permission violations and occupancy misuse.
Gupta added that all previously issued notices remain legally valid, taking the total number of notices served to more than 1,250.
Petitioner Purnendu Shukla said the SC proceedings make it clear that commercial activities operating from residential areas will eventually have to cease.
Experts seek scientific planning
Professor Dr Krishna Kumar Dhote of the Department of Architecture and Planning at MANIT suggested that BMC engage an independent town and country planning expert while preparing its future action plan. He cited the example of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which sought assistance from IIT Delhi for planning-related issues.
Relocation plans begin
The uncertainty has prompted some businesses to consider shifting operations. Anand Soni, president of the 10 Number Traders' Federation, claimed the government failed to adequately explain before the SC that Bhopal's master plan has remained pending for more than two decades. According to him, at least three major branded showrooms are now planning to relocate to avoid recurring legal and administrative challenges.
Sealed establishments re-open
The BMC's earlier sealing drive has lost momentum after several establishments resumed operations. While BMC had sealed two properties and recorded panchnamas for 99 traders who voluntarily shut their businesses, many have since reopened after the state government constituted a high-level committee and enforcement was paused.
One prominent example is Hotel Rajmahal in Rohit Nagar, where only one of three shutters had been sealed. The remaining two shutters have been opened and business has resumed, raising questions over the effectiveness of the earlier action.
Official statement
BMC Commissioner Sanskriti Jain said reopened sealed premises would face action under municipal rules in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions within a week.
