Metro construction barricades have narrowed the carriageway at Jawahar Chowk and adjoining areas. Long queues reported from Jawahar Chowk towards Depot Square and Bhadbhada Square. Congestion also affects stretch towards Old MLA Quarters. Situation worsens during evening peak hours. Problem particularly severe on Sundays when weekly vegetable market attracts large crowds. Causes include metro construction barricades, roadside encroachments, and surge in monsoon visitors to nearby picnic spots.

Traffic arrangements changed on road between Jawahar Chowk and Bharat Mata Square (Depot area) due to metro construction. One-way route from Hanuman Mandir towards Jawahar Chowk implemented. Vehicles from Jawahar Chowk to Bharat Mata Square continue normally. Traffic from Bharat Mata Square to Jawahar Chowk diverted: turn left at Hanuman Mandir, pass through water tank area, Nageshwar Dham Temple and Atal Path to reach Jawahar Chowk. Police appealed to follow new routes to avoid unnecessary travel.

Metro timetable changed: trains operate 11 am to 4:30 pm from April 3 (previously 12 noon to 7:30 pm) to speed up signalling project work. Metro runs between Subash Nagar and AIIMS covering eight stations. One train currently operates on all eight stations causing longer waiting times. Signalling work in final stage; once operational, two or more trains expected on both tracks, reducing travel time and improving frequency.

• Balconies of five municipal corporation-owned shops collapsed near Jawahar Chowk, Bhopal, on Thursday afternoon.
• No injuries were reported, but the collapse damaged goods kept outside and some parked vehicles.
• Affected shops:
• Mohammad Naeem’s bike repair centre
• Two photo frame shops owned by Anoop Singh Rathore
• Kalimuddin’s CCTV camera shop
• Satish Kumar Yadav’s sports goods shop
• Shopkeepers said the shops are about 40 years old and have been in a dilapidated condition for a long time.
• They alleged the civic body had not carried out needed maintenance or repairs despite regular rent payment.
• Some shopkeepers linked the incident to Bhopal Metro construction on the main road in front of the shops, saying night drilling vibrations may have weakened the structure over time.
• They said no metro work was happening at the exact time of the collapse.
• MLA Bhagvandas Sabnani and Councillor Jagdish Yadav visited the site and inspected the damaged shops.
• They assured assistance to the affected shopkeepers and safety measures to prevent similar incidents.

• Bhopal Municipal Corporation intensified its anti-encroachment drive at Jawahar Chowk, a Smart City development zone and metro rail corridor.
• Under commissioner Sanskriti Jain’s instructions, the anti-encroachment squad, with the district administration and metro rail corporation, removed unauthorized platforms, kiosks, carts, food trucks and goods.
• The drive aimed to clear obstructions affecting public movement and the metro project passing through Jawahar Chowk to Bhadbhada.
• Officials said the action was not only routine enforcement but also a response to citizen complaints received through the CM Helpline and the BMC call centre.

Construction on Bhopal Metro’s Bhadbhada–New Market corridor is reducing road space between Jawahar Chowk and New Market as festive-season traffic increases. Nearly 100 e-rickshaws are parked or waiting along the stretch, adding to congestion from private vehicles, roadside parking and encroachments.

MPMRCL says contractors must obtain construction permissions and meet their conditions, while traffic control is the traffic police’s responsibility. Police have banned e-rickshaws on 12 routes, including Katju Hospital–Rangmahal and Roshanpura.

BMC said it removed some vendors from Boulevard Street last week, but some returned; concerns also remain around Rang Mahal intersection. Authorities involved are MPMRCL, traffic police and BMC. The festive rush will test enforcement and coordination as construction advances.