Knowledge and AI City to come up on 3,700 acres:BDA to prepare DPR-design, invites proposals from agencies

A Knowledge and AI City is set to come up over nearly 3,700 acres near Bhopal’s airport and Bhauri area. The process for the project has now officially begun. The Bhopal Development Authority (BDA) has invited proposals from agencies for detailed project reports (DPR), design work, and other infrastructure-related planning. Experts believe this initiative represents a master plan for the proposed Knowledge and AI City. The BDA has also issued tenders so that DPR and other preparatory work can be completed at the earliest, paving the way for the construction phase of the AI city to begin. According to expert Manoj Meek, the proposed Knowledge and AI City in Bhopal has now entered a crucial administrative stage. He said the vision has been part of the “Kamala Ka Bhopal” campaign for a long time, and the government gave it formal momentum on 13 November 2025, when the development of a Knowledge and AI City was officially announced. The Expression of Interest (EOI) invites participation from urban planners, designers, infrastructure firms, academic institutions, and consortiums. Move towards concrete master planning stage CREDAI president Meek said the tender signals that the project has now entered a solid phase of master planning for the AI City. He explained that an RFP has been invited for selecting consultants to prepare the master plan for the Bhauri-based Knowledge and AI City. This clearly indicates that the project is moving beyond vision into structured planning, including surveys, feasibility studies, DPR preparation, and implementation framework design. AI cities developing across India Experts say the Bhopal project is coming at a time when several states in India are rapidly moving towards technology-driven urban projects. Karnataka has taken steps towards an AI-based integrated IT city in Bidadi, while in Visakhapatnam, Google’s AI hub announcement is driving development of integrated AI infrastructure, data centres, energy systems, and fibre networks. Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati is also developing quantum infrastructure. Under the India AI Mission, more than 38,000 GPUs have already been onboarded for common computing facilities. This shows that competition is now focused on compute power, connectivity, energy systems, talent, and institutional readiness. The project is being viewed as an integrated metropolitan development model combining education, research, startups, AI, quantum infrastructure, GCCs, data systems, and governance technology. Experts suggest the next focus should be on timely consultant selection, early development of trunk infrastructure, identification of anchor institutions, renewable energy integration, water security, fibre network expansion, and monthly review mechanisms. Modern high-tech and cyber city model As per information, the city will be developed on the lines of a modern high-tech and cyber city. It will host world-class educational institutions, research centres, and startups within a single integrated ecosystem. The proposed site is near Raja Bhoj Airport and Bhauri, where IISER already has a research centre. What is a Knowledge and AI City and why it is needed? A Knowledge and AI City is a modern smart urban zone designed for education, research, and artificial intelligence-driven innovation. It brings together global institutions, startups, and research centres in one location. The aim is to connect technology, knowledge, and industry to explore new opportunities and promote innovation-driven growth.