Bhopals gleaming arterial roads are often held up as symbols of urban progress. But venture off the main routes, and a different story unfolds — one of civic neglect, daily frustration, and mounting discontent in the citys residential colonies. Over the past decade, major corridors like the Bhopal Bypass, Hoshangabad Road, VIP Road, and Kolar Road have been widened and upgraded into four- and six-lane highways. Maintained primarily by the Public Works Department (PWD), these roads carry the bulk of the citys traffic and receive routine maintenance. In contrast, the roads leading into neighbourhoods and service lanes — particularly in areas like Bagsewaniya, Danish Square, Chhola, and along the 80 Feet Road corridor — remain badly deteriorated. Potholes, crumbling surfaces, waterlogging, and open manholes are a daily hazard for residents and commuters alike. Nowhere is this contrast more striking than near DMart on Hoshangabad Road. While the main road is newly surfaced, the adjacent service lanes are cracked, debris-strewn, and frequently waterlogged. In Bagsewaniya, many colony streets are now virtually impassable. Its frustrating that crores are spent on main roads, but the lanes where people actually live are forgotten, said Reena Pathak, a resident of Danish Nagar. Every monsoon, our colony turns into a muddy stream. Autos refuse to enter, and its unsafe for children and the elderly. Shopkeeper Jitendra Verma, who runs a business on 80 Feet Road, said potholes outside his shop have not been repaired in over two years. Customers avoid stopping here. During the rains, water rises to knee level. Theres no drainage system, and no one from the authorities ever visits. Residents across the city report similar inaction from the PWD. Despite repeated complaints, they say their concerns are routinely ignored. PWD officials dont even respond to our calls or emails, said Anil Kumar, a resident of Bagsewaniya. Ironically, government vehicles pass through these roads every month for inspections or meetings. They cant possibly miss the condition, yet nothing is done. Neighbourhoods such as Ashoka Garden, Idgah Hills, and Subhash Nagar also reflect the same neglect. Residents say the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is responsible for colony roads, lacks both adequate resources and coordination with higher departments. In many areas, unauthorised colonies and pending land regularisation further delay repairs. Service roads along Hoshangabad Road and Kolar Road have become dumping grounds and illegal parking zones, often obstructed by construction debris. Their poor state not only hampers traffic decongestion but poses a serious safety risk during emergencies. Civic experts and citizens argue that Bhopals development narrative is incomplete unless it addresses these interior roads. While the city pushes ahead with its Smart City ambitions, many feel its lived reality in residential pockets remains far from modern. Until authorities widen their focus to include local access roads alongside highways, residents say, Bhopal will remain a city divided — part modern metropolis, part neglected neighbourhood.

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