Large parts of Bhopal experienced planned electricity disruptions on December 28 as the city’s power utility undertook extensive maintenance work across residential, institutional and industrial zones. The scheduled outages, announced in advance, affected key localities including Hamidia College, Chintaman Road, Jama Masjid and several central and peripheral neighbourhoods, underlining the growing challenge of upgrading urban infrastructure while maintaining daily continuity in a fast-expanding city.
According to officials from the electricity department, the power cuts were necessary to carry out system strengthening and routine maintenance aimed at improving grid reliability. Supply interruptions were staggered across different time slots, ranging from early morning to evening hours, with most areas facing outages between four and six hours. Authorities advised residents, businesses and institutions to plan ahead, particularly in densely populated and mixed-use areas. Central Bhopal localities such as old markets, educational institutions, hospitals and religious precincts were among those affected, highlighting the complex balancing act between infrastructure upgrades and essential urban services. Officials said that newly constructed or upgraded electrical components were being integrated into the network, a process that requires temporary shutdowns to ensure worker safety and long-term operational stability.
Industrial clusters in Govindpura and adjoining zones also saw scheduled outages, affecting small manufacturing units and food processing facilities. Industry representatives noted that while advance notice helped mitigate losses, repeated daytime shutdowns can disrupt production cycles and labour planning. Experts emphasised that predictable, transparent scheduling remains critical for maintaining economic productivity in industrial districts. Urban planners point out that Bhopal’s power network, like that of many Indian cities, is under increasing pressure from rising electricity demand, climate variability and urban sprawl. “Preventive maintenance is essential if cities are to avoid larger, unplanned outages during peak demand or extreme weather,” an urban infrastructure expert said, adding that such works must increasingly align with energy efficiency and resilience goals.
From a sustainability perspective, analysts argue that maintenance-driven outages should be accompanied by longer-term investments in decentralised energy systems, rooftop solar adoption and smarter load management. These measures could reduce dependence on single-point grid shutdowns while supporting Bhopal’s broader low-carbon and inclusive urban development ambitions. The electricity department stated that power supply would be restored immediately after completion of the scheduled works in each area. Residents were encouraged to report any delays or technical issues through official helplines. As Bhopal continues to modernise its civic infrastructure, the episode underscores the importance of coordinated planning to ensure that essential upgrades minimise disruption while laying the foundation for a more reliable, sustainable urban energy system.
Bhopal Faces Scheduled Power Cut Affecting Hamidia College, Chintaman Road, Jama Masjid
