Bopal

Bopal બોપલ
Bopal
Coordinates: 23°01′55″N 72°28′04″E / 23.032011°N 72.467816°E / 23.032011; 72.467816Coordinates: 23°01′55″N 72°28′04″E / 23.032011°N 72.467816°E / 23.032011; 72.467816
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Ahmadabad
Government
• Type	Municipality
Population (2011)
• Total	34,030[1]
Languages
• Official	Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Vehicle registration	GJ-1-XX-XXXX
Website	http://www.bopalgrampanchayat.com/

Bopal (earlier a satellite town & Gram Panchayat) is a municipality in the Ahmedabad district of India, state of Gujarat. Bopal and it's neighbouring village Ghuma have been merged and granted a 'municipality' status in February 2015. After being declared as municipality, the area will be governed by an administrator. Wards and limits will be declared within 6 months and elections will be held along with the municipal corporation elections in Ahmedabad ^{[2] [3]}(expected to take place in October 2015 ^[4]).)

Bopal was earlier a part of Ahmedabad-Rural. For electoral purposes, it falls under Ghatlodiya election-area.

The area was governed by a Gram Panchayat. The last Gram Sarpanch was Mr. Dinesh Dabhi of BJP-backed Sadbhavna Panel.^{[5] [6]}

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[7] Bopal had a population of 12,181. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bopal has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 84% and female literacy of 75%.

As of 2011 census, Bopal which had the population of 12,181 in 2001, today houses 34,030 people.^[8]

Infrastructure

Bopal experienced a growth in infrastructure the last 5 to 7 years. The multiplex theatre City Gold was built in this time. A BRTS route is currently being built, and would go from Bopal-Ambli road to Ghuma via Bopal Cross Roads. This route would include a direct line from the Shivranjini cross-roads to the Bopal roundabout. The government was criticized for spending Rs. 5 crores for building a road and then 6 months later, digging it up all over again for laying the BRTS route. ^[9]

Since 2005 many new properties have come up on & around Basant Bahar Road (Some people call it Gala Gymkhana Road) as well as the Bopal-Ghuma 4 km stretch. Village Ghuma and Bopal are very close - it is hard to differentiate. The South Bopal Area (popularly known as SoBo) has become a hotspot of Bopal area. The well-known road of North Bopal area is the 'Chocolate' road which passes goes through Bopal lake, DPS, ISRO (Indian Space Research Org) colony, GEB Electrical supply office, and connects with Shela Road.

The state-of-the-art Krishna Heart Center is also located in Ghuma.

There are high number of private and public sector banks in the area (HDFC BANK at Bopal Main circle, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of India, Dena Bank, Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank, Kalupur Bank, Punjab National Bank, Bank Of India and most recently Oriental Bank of Commerce.)

Drinking water has high Total Dissolved Solids. A 2005 study of 10 residential areas in Ahmedabad city found that Bopal has the highest SC ( Specific Conductivity), Flouride content and Chloride content in ground water, making it necessary for most of the dwellers to use Reverse Osmosis purified water. ^[10]

Drainage line was a big problem but now local authorities AUDA have completed drainage facilities and most of the properties in Bopal are now connected with drainage line. Also Rain Water pipe line has been constructed. AUDA also initiated to widen the roads in Bopal.

The main road connecting Ghuma and Bopal with S.P. Ring Road nowadays observes very high traffic during office hours in morning as well as evening.

The AUDA has declared that a flyover will be constructed on SP Ring Road at the Bopal Cross Roads.^[11] This will surely ease traffic flow at the junction in the coming years. The flyover construction work has commenced after monsoon 2014 and is underway.

It is expected in early 2015 that Bopal may emerge as a key residential location due to its proximity to the business districts in Prahladnagar and along the S.G. Highway, and improving physical infrastructure in the region. ^[12]

Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority has proposed to construct 2500 homes in Bopal area by 2016 for people from different income groups as a part of social development initiative ^[13]

The rapid urbanisation and growing population have increased criminal activities in Bopal & Ghuma. The Gujarat Police has been inadequate in serving the expanding security needs of these regions and is trying to cope by deploying additional police personnel.^[14]

Education

Bopal, Ghuma and nearby areas has many Gujarati & English medium self-financed and grant-in-aid schools. ^[15]

Self Financed English medium schools include Shivashish School, New Tulip International School, St. Ann's School, Shri Ram Vidhyalaya, Little Bard High School, Satyamev Jayate International School, Shri Ram Vidhyalaya, Zydus School of Excellence, Sanskardham.

Self Financed Gujarati medium schools include Shivashish Vidhyamandir, M K Patel High School, Ravi Madhyamik Shala, Sanskardham.

Grant in aid Gujarati medium schools include M A Patel High School, M A Patel Higher Secondary School.

Landmarks

There are two famous points, location Umiya Mata Temple and Sarkari Tubewell on Bopal Main Road - which has been made wider. The Bopal lake and Ghuma lake have also been developed in 2014, and these are attracting local visitors. Both these lakes are large in size and have a temple in the lake's center as an added attraction. Ghuma lake had caved-in in 2013 ^[16] and the redevelopment work is nearly complete as of early-2015.

Bopal not only shelter houses but also tourist. In Bopal tourist mostly came for industrial visit in Sanand Viramgam Road industrail park. Recently Hotel Skyland welcome many guest from international tourist too.

==References==