1. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN CITY OF BHOPAL
SHUBHRANSHU UPADHYAY1
ANUPAM SUNIL2
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ABSTRACT
Growing urbanization has resulted in a situation where moving people and goods from one place to
another in less time and cost is a challenge. The metros have faced this challenge and are still struggling.
The heat is now being faced by tier two cities. Bhopal capital of Madhya Pradesh has shown phenomenal
growth in recent years as an educational hub in central India. The paper covers history and present status
of Public transportation in the city.
Introduction
India has developed phenomenally at a very fast pace during recent years. The development is
synonymous with increased urbanization .The cities of India face a daunting task of meeting the
intercity transportation requirements of its inhabitants in the wake of physical expansion,
growing population & employment expansion in tertiary sector. Public transportation is available
in city of Bhopal in the form of Buses Mini buses, Magic’s, Auto Rickshaws & Passenger Tempo’s.
However it has always remained in adequate for residents of Bhopal.
History
During very early stages of urbanization Bhopal used to have only non-mechanized mode of
transportation in the form of Tanga’s .Subsequently road transport office introduced busses
primarily on the then existing through way from Hamidia road and Railway station to BHEL area.
Another route being Hamidia Road to Jahangirabad which was later extended till T.T.Nagar.
In early eighteens passenger Tempo’s called Bhattsuars started plying, followed quickly by
minibuses. However the routes remained the same .RTO buses stopped running due to huge
accumulated losses. The tempo’s & minibuses remained the only public transport for more than
20 years.
1
2
Author is Architect Urban planner practicing in Bhopal
Author is consultant planner with IL&FS IDC

2. Population of Bhopal & more significantly its territories expanded rapidly after year 2000.
Various settlements mushroomed on all major roads & adjoining villages in all directions.
This lead to huge transportation demands. However these demands could never get fulfilled in
upcoming years. A few of the existing mini bus routes were extended to cater to demands;
however no new routes were devised. Thus public transport facilities always remained short on
supply front.
During Nineties Bhopal emerged as a big cultural center. Bharat Bhawan, Ravindra Bhawan,
Manav Sangharalaya, and Van Vihar these all areas to date are out of ambit of any kind of public
transport.
Similarly from 2000 onwards various settlements took place beyond Shahpura, Piplani (BHEL),
Berkheda Pathani, and Lalghati. With the emergence of Kolar municipality area in south
direction, the demand for public transportation sprang dramatically. Bhopal during 2000’s has
increased in size tremendously owing to advent of setting up of numerous institutes offering
higher education and specializations. Various national institutes of importance also came up
during this period. Bhopal has now become an education hub in addition to being a cultural city
in central India. The growth has called for urgent need in stepping up public transportation
requirements. Transport facilities were started to some of these growth areas with new
improved luxury buses. However these buses also started running into losses due to lack of
maintenance and management needs.
Current Scenario
Public transport is a thrust area in JNNURM scheme, which started in 63 cities of India. Bhopal is
also a beneficiary under this scheme. For the first time new improved city buses and various new
routes have been opened to cater to the growing demand of public transportation in the city.
Due care has been taken to improve the frequency also of buses plying on different routes.
Bus Rapid Transportation System BRTS has just got completed in the city. Objective is to mitigate
travel time for passengers through designated lane for Buses. After successful completion of trial
runs BRTS has been dedicated to public use this year. However BRTS is in its infant stage and
undergoing teething troubles. With due and appropriate rectifications it would serve as a boon
to the city.
Network of public transport in Bhopal is divided into
i.
ii.
iii.
Trunk routes
Standard routes
Complimentary routes.
3 no’s
7 no’s
7 no’s

3. Trunk Routes
S.No
1
2
3
Route
Via
Bairagarh Rly Station To
Habibganj Naka
Bus Stand to Mandideep
Bairagarh Rly Station to
Kokta Tiraha
Moti Masjid, New Market, Board office, M.P.Nagar
Barkhedi, Jinsi, Board office, Habibganj, Misrod
Royal Market, Bharat Talkies, Barkhedi, Govindpura,
Patel Nagar
Route length in
Kms
15.9
23.3
23.5
Source: Bhopal Municipal Corporation
Standard Routes
S.No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Route
Via
Lalghati to Nehru
Nagar
Jawahar Chowk Depot
to Saket nagar
Gandhi Nagar to
Alpana Tiraha
Karond chouraha to
Bairagarh Cheechli
Kamla Park, Rangmahal, P & T square
Rangmahal, Mata Mandir, Chunabhatti,
Shahpura, Hanuman Mandir, RRL, Saket nagar
Lalghati, Taj mahal, Bhopal Talkies
Kazi camp, Bhopal talkies, Lady hospital,
Rangmahal, Nehru nagar, Khushiram ayurvedic
college, Sarvdharm
Bus stand to
Lady hospital, New market, Paryawas bhawan,
Awadhpuri
Jyoti Talkies, Career college
P&T Square to Salaiyya MACT, Ekant Park, 11 no Stop, Bharat Nagar,
Indus garden
Gandhi Nagar to Patel New Jail, People’s campus, Damkheda, Ratnagiri
Nagar By pass
Bypass.
Source: Bhopal Municipal Corporation
Complimentary Routes
S.No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Route
Neelbad to Habibganj Naka
Old jail to Bairagarh
Misrod to Mandideep
ISBT to Village Bagli
Malikhedi Khejra to Prabhat Petrol
Pump
Damkheda to Habibganj Naka
ISBT to Rajeev Gandhi Nagar
Source: Bhopal Municipal Corporation
Route length
in Kms
15.9
11.3
8.6
11.6
13.5
9.3
12.1
Route length in
Kms
11.2
12.5
13.6
16.8
13.6
12.7
19.1

4. Besides ten numbers feeder routes have also been proposed for efficacy of this public
transportation network and distribution. It is being proposed that star buses and newly
purchased buses under JNNURM scheme shall remain off the road on complimentary and feeder
routes. Mini buses are proposed to run on complimentary routes where as magics on feeder
routes. A combination of mini buses and magics may also ply on these routes.
Conclusions
Bhopal has just achieved a milestone in terms of public transportation with commencement of
BRTS system. A feasibility study of metro is also underway and a draft report has recently been
tabled outlining three major trunk routes for the same. Drastic increase in travel distances in city
in a short span has forced to realization among people of Bhopal with vehicle ownership to start
using public transport. Success of any transportation system also lies in this.