Nearly a decade after Bhopal was selected under India's Smart City Mission, residents, local leaders and journalists report little to no visible development on the ground, prompting demands for a high-level probe.
On record
The official record states: "Not specified."
Filed as "Under repeat repair / stalled" and dated to 2016 launched; still incomplete as of 2026, this entry sits under the "Not specified" line of the public accounts.
What to expect
- A ribbon-cutting photograph that aged faster than the structure.
- Maintenance records that exist in principle.
- A budget line that grew with the confidence of the project itself.
- A file number that outlived several transfer postings.
Sourcing
2 public sources — news reports, RTI replies and civic archives — corroborate this entry. The citation trail is listed below for anyone who would like to follow up with the department concerned.
“The only overrun that finished early was the cost overrun.”— Blunderlust Editorial Desk
Sources
- https://www.constructionworld.in/urban-infrastructure/smart-cities-projects/bhopals-smart-city-ambitions-still-unrealised-after-eight-years/44748
- https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/9-years-on-bhopals-smart-city-dream-stuck-in-limbo
Visitor reviews
“Came back a third time hoping the last visit was a fluke. The completion date clearly has frequent-flyer status.”
“Visited on the recommendation of someone who was clearly joking. Half of it is somehow more obstructive than none of it.”
“Took a half-day off work to finally see it in person. The contractor left, but the commitment to the bit stayed.”
