CITY PROFILE

Bhopal Municipal Corporation

By:

Satyajit Shinde

Support: Dr. Sudha Kashelikar

All India Institute of Local Self-Government for

Support to National Policies for Urban Poverty Reduction

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BHOPAL CITY PROFILE

FACT SHEET
Population (Census2011) 17.96 Lakh
Area 287.17 Sq km
Density 6253 persons/ sq.km.
Slums* 380
Slum Population and HHs* 936066 Pop. and 183989 HHs
Literacy Rate (%) 85.24 %
Urban Local Body Bhopal Municipal Corporation
Source: * Bhopal CDP, Census 2001 and 11

Regional Setting
Bhopal is situated on the site of an 11th century city, Bhojapal,
founded by Raja Bhoja. Bhopal today presents a multi-faceted
profile; the old city with its ethnicity, fine old palaces and mosques
and the modern new city with its well laid out parks and gardens,
broad avenues and streamlined modern facilities. Bhopal, the
capital of Madhya Pradesh, is a city of historical, economical and as
well as political importance. The monuments of the city still reflect
the aristocratic lifestyle of its rulers. Dost Mohammed, an Afghan
soldier, was the founder of the existing city. It is said that on his
journey back, from Delhi after the death of the Mughal Emperor,
Aurangzeb, he met with queen Kamalapati. She took his aid after
the death of her consort. A legend states how the queen would
drift in a lotus barge on a full moon day across the lake. At present
there are two lakes in the city, which are divided by an over
bridge, adding further beauty and glory to this City of Begums
who ruled the city for more than a century. Bhopal is located in the central region of India and in
north -western part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is 744 km south of New-Delhi and 779 km
northwest of Mumbai.

Administrative Status
"Majlis-e-intezamia" was the name of first municipal body, which came into being in 1907 in the
erstwhile Bhopal estate . First city survey was conducted in 1916 after the enactment of Municipal
Act. Upto 1956 the area under Bhopal Municipal limit was very small , but after that few more
surrounding villages were added to it. The total area under Bhopal municipal limit reached to 71.23
Sq. Kms by 1975.
At present total area under Bhopal Municipal Corporation is 285 Sq. Kms. Initial constitution of
Bhopal Municipality was a 20-member committee, headed by a non -Governmental president.
The Municipal Board was constituted for the first time in 1952 with Shri. Abdul Karim Babu Miya as
President and Shri. Deendayal as Vice-President. Later on the status of Municipal board was
upgraded to municipal council and an IAS officer was appointed as Chief Administrator. In 1983,
Bhopal Municipal Council got the status of Municipal Corporation, with total 56 wards.

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Climate
Bhopal has a humid subtropical climate, with mild, dry winters, a hot summer and a humid monsoon
season. Summers start in late March and go on till mid-June, the average temperature being around
30 °C, with the peak of summer in May, when the highs regularly exceed 40 °C (104 °F). Total annual
rainfall is about 1146 mm.

Economic Base
Bhopal is divided into 6 major areas and around 75 suburbs. The major areas in Bhopal include New
City and Old City. The economy of Bhopal is essentially divided into modern and traditional
industries.
The prominent industries in the old city are those of cotton, electrical goods, jewelry and chemical.
Some other industries are involved in cloth weaving, making sports equipment, sealing wax and
making matches. The Old City also has many garages that specialize in automobile conversion and
are popular for producing modified and tuned motorbikes, SUVs and cars.
On the other hand, being the state capital, accommodates many reputed insurance companies,
banks and other financial organizations. M P Nagar is Bhopal's most prominent commercial area and
accommodates many reputed business houses.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), which is the largest manufacturing and engineering
enterprise in India, has its unit in Bhopal. The industrial suburb of Bhopal is Mandideep, which
accommodates many plants belonging to some of the esteemed companies including Eicher,
Crompton Greaves, Procter and Gamble, Larsen and Turbo, Fujitsu and HEG.
The Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd. is planning to develop an
efficient Software and Hardware Technology Park in Bhopal. Multinational companies (MNCs) such
as Taurus Microsystems, Fujitsu and Genpact are supposed to set up their centers in this Technology
Park.

Occupation Pattern
Bhopal is essentially an administrative city with large number of population engaged in various state
and central government organizations. It may be noted that Indore is the main business hub of
Madhya Pradesh. So far as the total employment is concerned Bhopal has 39% of working
population engaged in informal sector. Considering the work force participation of 30% large section
of population is dependent on informal employment. In Bhopal most of the households have regular
income. This is important indicator as it suggests that the population have steady consumption rate.
In terms of occupational type most of the work force belongs to service class and a significant
number of populations is salaried under various heads. Bhopal being an administrative city and
center of political activities there are large number of central and state government employees. This
class of population enjoys reasonably good purchasing power.

Demographic profile
Bhopal has been repeatedly subjected to stress and strains of sudden increase and decrease in
population. After independence, the rehabilitation of migrant population and establishment of BHEL
added to the sharp increase in the population during the post independence era. As a result of this
sudden influx of in-migration, slums or jhuggis sprang up particularly in BHEL area and TT Nagar.
According to population census 2001 Bhopal has total urban population of 1,437,354 with a total
area of 287.17 square km. As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Bhopal in 2011 is
1,795,648; of which male and female are 939,560 and 856,088 respectively. The sex ratio of Bhopal
city is 911 per 1000 males.
Total literates in Bhopal city are 1,354,219 of which 741,737 are males while 612,482 are females.
Average literacy rate of Bhopal city is 85.24 percent of which male and female literacy was 89.19 and
80.90 percent. Total children (0-6) in Bhopal city are 206,967 as per figure the Census 2011. There
were 107,945 boys while 99,022 are girls. Child sex ratio of girls is 917 per 1000 boys.

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Bhopal city is the most urbanized districts of the Table 1: Demography
state. As per 2001 census, 80.53% of the district Particular 2001 2011
population lives in urban areas, predominantly, in Area 8.15 km2 8.15 km2
the city. In between 1901 to 1921, the urbanization Population 14,37,354 17,95,648
declined as a result of plague outbreaks. The urban Decadal Growth Rate 35% 24%
population then rose steadily from its low 30.4% in No. of HHs 1,28,170 ____
1921 to 43.3% in 1951. In 1956, Bhopal was made
HH Size 5.2 ____
the state capital and, in the same decade, the
industrial township of BHEL was established. This % SC/ ST population 12 / 3 ____
led to substantial population-increase and by 1961 Density 50 ____
the urbanization of the district rose to 61.6%. In (Persons per Hectare)
subsequent decades, rate of urbanization seems to Total Election Wards 56 69
be eventually stabilizing at about 80%. Source: Census 2001 and 2011

Development Pattern

From the adjoining map it is

evident that maximum growth
has taken place in the
southeast direction along the
Hoshangabad Road.
The level land, ease of
transportation and nearness to
Habibganj Railway station are
major factors responsible for
the southward growth of the
city. It is to be noted that vast
expense of the Upper Lake
could not encourage the
Westward growth of the city.

Growth of the city and direction of growth Sprawl period and area

Table 2: Bhopal Planning Area

Sr. No. Area Existing (2005) Area in Ha. Proposed (2021) Area in Ha.
1 Developed Area 17254.98 36567.11
2 Undeveloped Area 64030.59 44718.46
Total Planning Area 81285.57 81285.57
Source: Bhopal Development Plan 2021(Draft)

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Houseless Population
Table 3: Details of constructed Shelter Homes*
City Proposed Present Status
numbers No. of Constructed Capacity To be constructed
Bhopal 15 04 200 11
*Data submitted by the State Government to the Hon’ble Supreme Court against the petition the
petition number 196/2001 of Right to Food in Hon’ble Supreme Court
Source: ‘Homeless in Madhya Pradesh-A status Report’ by Vikas Samvad, Madhya Pradesh

Slums Profile
In 2000, the surveyors prepared a revised list from
Table 4: Demographics of Slums in Bhopal
the Collectorate and BMC list of slum settlements
No. of Households 183989
with wards and map locations. This list used for the Population 936066
Slum Networking Project has 266 slums in the year Male 253153
2000 with the total population of 468,606 persons Female 225488
and 78,101 households (assuming 6 persons per HH Size 5.08
family as against the city average of 5.37). The Source: Bhopal CDP
Census of India 2001 registered slum population of 4,78,641. According to the City Development
Plan, there are about 380 slum settlements, 936066 slum population and 183989 slum HHs.
However, a survey conducted by Oxfam in 2006 puts the figure closer to 542.

Bhopal Municipal Corporation has recently conducted a Slum Survey, the data and report of this
survey is awaited.

Census figures of slum populations are available from 1981. Estimates of slum populations for years
1961 and 1971 were derived from supporting documents of 1975 Bhopal Development Plan. These
figures show that up to 1981, the decadal slum growth was around 110%, just a little higher than the
national average. It appears that adverse migration effects of the events from 1951 to 1961 were
over. From 1981 to 1991, slum population went up by a massive 857%, an increase far larger than in
any other city of this scale in the country. In the same decade, in 1984, `Patta” Act, giving leasehold
tenure to slum dwellers, was announced.
(Source: Bhopal CDP)

Slum Location
A large number of slums are on, or close to, nallah or riverbanks. Many slums have steep slopes, rock
outcrops and high water table. This would imply high infrastructure development cost on the
account of cut and fill, difficult access, rock excavations and dewatering. The positive side is that the
slopes are favourable for good drainage, storm and sewerage. Some of the slums on flatter terrain
have black cotton soils, which again imply extra development cost.

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 The Rahul Nagar and Shanti Nagar
slums in Bhopal have become the
first two slums to be declared open-
defecation free in the state of
Madhya Pradesh. WaterAid
India and Bhopal Municipal
Corporation are supporting local
partner Aarambh to implement a
sanitation programme as part of the
Slums Environment Sanitation
Initiative (SESI), in 17 slums with
a total population of 5,058.
The programme, which has
benefited 142 families in Rahul
Nagar slums and 108 families in
Shanti Nagar, was launched in
December 2005 with the objective
Housing of upgrading the water hygiene and
sanitation infrastructure with
Table 6: Household Profile of Households in Bhopal maximum community
participation.
Average HH Size (2001) 5.16 To ensure the community was
Mean HH Income (Rs/month) 6065 motivated to take ownership of the
BPL Population (% HH) 15.2
project, Community Water and
Sanitation Committees and self
No legal Tenure (%HH) 21.4 help groups for women were set up.
No in-house water (%HH) 33 Once the community was
sufficiently engaged, each slum
No piped water(%HH) 4.3 had five demonstration latrines
No private toilet (%HH) 18.6 built to introduce
Flooding problem (%HH 41.2
new practices before latrines were
installed throughout the
No paved road (%HH) 22.3 community.
Public transport > 1 km 11.1 This approach meant that members
Source: Integrated Urban Development in Madhya Pradesh for Bhopal, ADB,
of the community were motivated
2001
enough to contribute 50% of the
cost of the lavatories (Rs 1,000 per
household) as well as providing
Tenure Status manual labor. Once each household
Higher proportions of low income families were reported had a latrine, the project was
owning their plot of land; i.e. 39.2% of HIG, 43.2% of MIG, consolidated with awareness
58.5% of LIG and 80.3% of the EWS households owned their raising on the benefits of latrines,
plot of land. 42.5% households lived in rented with particular emphasis
accommodation. Significantly, 78.7% of the EWS households on improved security for women.
and 82.5% of BPL households owned their houses.
The following tables indicate the tenability status and patta
status that is available for 366 slums of total 380 slums in
Bhopal.

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Table 7: Tenability Status
Sr. No. Status of slums No. of Slums
1 Tenable 112
2 Semi-tenable 26
3 Partly Tanable 163
4 Partly Semi-tenable 28
5 Un-Tenable 37
Total 366
Source: Draft Slum Free City Plan for Bhopal

Table 8: Situation of Patta in Bhopal

Total Slums with patta No. of Permanent Temporary No Patta
Slums provision Households Patta Patta
366 177 78101 23195 (29%) 10541 (12%) 44365 (59%)

Source: Himanshu Parekh Consulting Engineers and YUVA

Basic Services in Slums

The current condition in the slums of Bhopal is expected to be much improved than year 2005. This
is mainly due to focused efforts by BMC as well as MPUSP and BSUP. As per the survey conducted in
2005, under the joint study conducted by USAID, UN Habitat and Bhopal Municipal Corporation
‘Poverty Mapping – A Situation Analysis of Poverty Pockets in Bhopal’ a large proportion of
households depended on public stand posts, boreholes, wells, springs etc for drinking water (66%)
which have been designated as a safe source of drinking water.

Table 9: Drinking water supply sources

Total No. of Slums No. of Public No. of Wells Number of Number of Tube
Stand Posts Hand Pumps Wells
380 6459 146 703 585
Source: ‘Poverty Mapping – A Situation Analysis of Poverty Pockets in Bhopal’ joint study of USAID, UN Habitat and BMC, 2005

The same study states that of the total community toilets, women used 47% of seats while 53% of
the toilet seats were used by men. 44% of all the community toilets had the facility of a bathroom.
Relatively low percentage of slums (approximately 19%) had access to community toilets and 59% of
these were linked with water supply. Nearly 83% were linked to a septic tank or sewerage.
However only 11% of the drains in the slums were lined (table) so the chances of contamination
flowing into ground water was high. Of the total community toilets 22% were not in use and 38%
were maintained but overcrowded. 13% of the toilets were reported as well maintained and less
crowded. Again around 21% of the toilets were poorly managed but people used them due to lack of
alternatives.

Table 10: Community Toilets: Availability and Access

Total no. Total Total Seats Toilets with Toilets with Connected
of slums Community permanent bath facility to septic
Male Female
Toilets/Seats water supply tank or
facility sewerage
380 71/841 448 393 42 31 59

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Land Ownership of Slums
Out of 366 Tenable and Partially Tenable Slums, 21 slums are on Public (BHEL) and GoI land, 1 slum is
on Public Defence and Government of India (GoI) land, 4 Slums are located on Public railways and
GoI, 217 slums are located on Public Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP) land, 21 on part
GoMP, 2 slums on Part GoMP, Railways and GoI land and 11 slums on Public Urban Local Bodies and
44 slums on Private Land, 2 Slums are located on Trust Land and 5 are located on Waqf board land.

Table 11: Land Ownership of Slums

Sr. No. Land Ownership of Slums No. of Slums
1 Public BHEL and GoI 21
2 Public Defence and GoI 1
3 Public Railway and GoI 4
4 Public GoMP 217
5 Part GoMP and Private 21
6 Part GoMP, Railway and GoI 2
7 Public Urban Local Body 11
8 Part GoMP and ULB 1
9 Private 44
10 Trust 2
11 Waqf Board 5
12 Untenable Slums 37
Total 366
Source: Draft Slum Free City Plan for Bhopal

Pro-Poor Budget
Bhopal Municipal Corporation has made 25% budget allocations towards pro-poor programs in the
2009-10 budgets. Separate pro-poor expenditure heads have been created in the annual budget and
the information will be recorded accordingly in the financial year 2010-11.This ensures that finances
are available in the city to implement any pro-poor programs that may be planned by the State in
future.

Overview of Poverty Alleviation/ Slum Improvement Programmes

Madhya Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor

Madhya Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor (Project Utthan) has been initiated by DFID in
partnership with Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP) for infrastructure development, slum
development and poverty reduction. The primary objective of the Madhya Pradesh Urban Services
for the Poor (MPUSP) is to strengthen governance at the level of the State and urban local bodies to
address access and affordability issues of the poor related to basic urban services.

The MPUSP is being implemented in Bhopal in select 21 slums that are on municipal land. MPUSP is
working with ULBs and slum communities for extending infrastructure through in-situ up-gradation
in identified slums for improving water supply, drainage, roads, street lights, waste management and
sanitation and community social assets. Slums are selected in participatory and transparent manner
with the involvement of the ULBs. The project ‘Utthan’ has three components – Infrastructure up-
gradation, Social Development and Employment and Livelihoods Scheme –‘Unnati’ in select slums.

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Also community structures and community based organizations are supported to strengthen
community participation and engagement in the entire process.

Basic Services for Urban Poor

BSUP Status at Madhya Pradesh State level: As many as 40,500 houses are proposed to be
constructed in the Madhya Pradesh state under Central Government’s scheme Basic Services for
Urban Poor, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Rural Mission. Process to construct 26 thousand
houses was started by Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain municipal corporations. Of these, 5,388
houses have been constructed at Bhopal and 1,916 at Indore. As many as three thousand 200
houses are under construction at Jabalpur.
(http://www.mpurban.gov.in/mpusp/frm_NewsViewMPUSP.aspx?NewsID=7114, 06/08/2012)

BSUP Status at Bhopal:

There are total 12 BSUP projects are in progress in Bhopal.
· 10 projects of Housing and Infrastructure sanctioned for Rs. 26039.60 lac.
· 2 projects of Integrated Development of Slum and Poor Locality for Rs. 8061 lac.
· Rs 21870.23 lac received as various ACA installment through GoI, State and BMC’s matching
share.

Source: Report by UDD, GoMP and BMC, 2012

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Reference
· City Development Plan of Bhopal 2005
· Integrated Urban Development in Madhya Pradesh for Bhopal, ADB, 2001
· Draft Slum Free City Plan of Bhopal Municipal Corporation under Rajiv Awas Yojana
· Impact assessment of Project Utthan in Bhopal, Report Submitted by Mr. Vinod Kumar
Boppa, PGDM Student, IIM Lucknow
· ‘Homeless in Madhya Pradesh-A status Report’ by Vikas Samvad, Madhya Pradesh
· ‘Poverty Mapping – A Situation Analysis of Poverty Pockets in Bhopal’ joint study conducted
by USAID, UN Habitat and Bhopal Municipal Corporation, 2005
· Bhopal Master Plan 2005
· http://www.investinindia.com/city/bhopal/investing-bhopal

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