Bhopal's Rs 933 Crore Road Dispute Ends in Landmark Compromise

A long-running dispute between the Public Works Department (PWD) and Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) over road restoration costs has finally been settled. The disagreement centred on a Rs 933 crore bill for repairing roads dug up under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme. After weeks of tension, both sides reached a compromise in a high-stakes meeting.

The conflict began when PWD submitted an estimate of Rs 933 crore for restoring roads affected by BMC's AMRUT 2.0 work. This figure was based on a charge of Rs 35,000 per running metre for digging PWD-owned roads. BMC officials argued that paying such a high amount would make the entire project financially unsustainable, as the total budget for AMRUT 2.0 stands at Rs 1,150 crore.

BMC is required to dig up around 262 kilometres of roads as part of the scheme. Officials warned that if they had to pay PWD's proposed fee, funds for essential sewage and water supply improvements would run out. The dispute escalated during a heated meeting, where BMC finally agreed to take responsibility for the road restoration itself.

PWD Chief Engineer Sanjay Maske confirmed the resolution, stating that future AMRUT 2.0 work will now proceed in coordination between the two agencies. The compromise also includes a focus on durable road restoration to prevent issues like subsidence and potholes in the future.

The agreement allows the AMRUT 2.0 project to move forward without further delays. BMC will now handle road repairs directly, ensuring higher quality while avoiding the Rs 933 crore cost. Both departments have committed to working together to complete the remaining infrastructure upgrades on time.