Bhopal metro stations to get dedicated parking:Budget on March 23 to include proposal for 14 new parking

Bhopal’s municipal corporation, often referred to as the “city government,” is set to present its budget on March 23, with a proposed outlay of around ₹3,500 crore. Officials have indicated that no decision has been taken yet on increasing taxes, especially after objections from ministers and MLAs over last year’s hike. 14 new parking facilities proposed A key proposal to be tabled in the council meeting includes the development of 14 new parking facilities across the city. Out of these, five are planned beneath metro stations. Each of these parking spaces is expected to accommodate around 40 four-wheelers and 250 two-wheelers. The proposal has already been approved in the Mayor-in-Council meeting held on March 16 and will now be presented before the council. The municipal corporation has also taken consent from the police department for these parking plans. Metro stations lack parking facilities Bhopal Metro’s Orange Line priority corridor spans 6.22 kilometers and includes eight stations—Subhash Nagar, Kendriya School, DB Mall, MP Nagar, Rani Kamlapati, DRM Tiraha, Alkapuri, and AIIMS. However, none of these stations currently have parking facilities, causing inconvenience to commuters. At present, only pick-and-drop arrangements are available, meaning passengers can be dropped off or picked up but cannot park their vehicles. Authorities have been working on resolving this issue for the past two months, and the municipal corporation has now proposed a solution. Locations identified for parking Parking facilities are planned under both gates of Subhash Nagar Metro Station, as well as under stations at Kendriya School, DB Mall, DRM Office, and Alkapuri. No decision has yet been made for MP Nagar, Rani Kamlapati, and AIIMS metro stations. However, alternative parking options already exist at these locations. For instance, Rani Kamlapati Railway Station has a large parking facility being used by metro commuters. At AIIMS, metro authorities have their own land where parking will be developed, while in MP Nagar, commuters can use an existing municipal parking facility. Other key proposals in council meeting Legacy waste disposal plan A proposal will also be presented for the disposal of legacy waste at Adampur trenching ground, with an estimated cost of ₹55.54 crore. The Mayor-in-Council has already approved this plan. 145 vehicles to be declared scrap Another proposal seeks to declare 145 unused municipal vehicles as scrap. This move has also received prior approval from the Mayor-in-Council. Focus on urban infrastructure The upcoming budget and proposals highlight a focus on improving urban infrastructure and addressing long-standing civic issues, particularly in transport and waste management.