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With the annual four-day Ijtema festival starting on November 14, traffic problems are becoming a major concern in Bhopal due to metro construction barricades and unfinished road work. The event, one of the largest religious gatherings in the city, attracts nearly 10 lakh devotees from across India and abroad. Residents
also visit the area for shopping and festivities, increasing crowd pressure.
Metro Construction in Bhopal
However, ongoing metro and road construction have made preparations especially difficult this year. The main problem lies on Berasia Road, which carries nearly half the total Ijtema-bound traffic. Due to construction barricades, the road has narrowed to just 10 feet in several stretches, creating severe bottlenecks for buses and heavy vehicles. From Bhopal Talkies to Lambakheda, multiple barricades block large parts of the road, leaving only a single lane open.
Traffic Congestion Due to Construction
Traffic police have advised the construction agency to remove unnecessary barricades and widen the road temporarily, but officials are hesitant due to safety concerns. More than 50% of Ijtema visitors use this route, raising fears of massive congestion during peak days. In previous years, Berasia Road allowed smooth movement from three directions, but now only one lane functions in several sections.
Construction at Bhopal Railway Station
Moreover, construction near platform number 6 at Bhopal railway station is causing jams as devotees arrive by train and continue by buses or cars. Several alternate routes, including those at Bhopal Talkies, Sindhi Colony, Karond Square, and Pul Bogda, are still incomplete. Post-monsoon potholes and closed stretches like Pul Bogda Road are worsening the situation, shifting all traffic to narrow roads like the 80 Feet Road and Bharat Talkies ROB, which already face frequent jams.
To manage the situation, the traffic police plan diversions via Vidisha Road, Kokta Bypass, and Gandhi Nagar, and will set up "drop-and-go" points near the railway station for smoother crowd movement.
