Bhopal, July 15, 2025 – A new project is underway in Bhopal with the launch of an Aqua Park. The foundation stone was laid on July 12, 2025, by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav near Bhadbhada. This park will cost ₹40 crore, with ₹25 crore from the central government and ₹15 crore from the Madhya Pradesh government. It’s expected to be ready in two years and could bring more tourism, education, and jobs to the area.
The Aqua Park will include a digital aquarium and an underwater tunnel where people can walk and watch fish swim overhead. Photos on social media show tunnels like this with sharks and bright fish, giving a clue about what’s coming. The first tunnel of this kind opened in 1985 at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World in New Zealand, made with thick acrylic glass. Bhopal’s tunnel might draw lots of visitors, similar to other aquarium spots around the world.
There will also be 3D interactive areas and a sea-life learning center to teach about ocean life. A fishery research and training spot will help improve fish farming. An innovation hub will give entrepreneurs a chance to start new businesses. A cafeteria with fish displays and a gift shop will make it a fun place for families.
This project fits with Madhya Pradesh’s Responsible Tourism Mission, which started in 2022 to help local communities through tourism. The state won an award for this in 2025. Tourism can bring in good money—some studies say eco-tourism might reach $300 billion a year globally, according to the UNWTO in 2023. Bhopal wants to use the park to grow its visitor numbers and support local people.
The Aqua Park also links to India’s inland fisheries, a key part of food production. India is the second-biggest aquaculture producer, with fish output growing from 7.5 lakh tonnes in 1950-51 to 139 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, per the Department of Fisheries. But production has slipped by 2.5% since 2019 due to water and farming issues. The new research center hopes to fix this and help fish farming grow again.
Bhopal has a hard past because of the 1984 gas tragedy, a terrible industrial disaster. But the city is now pushing ahead with growth in IT, industries, and tourism. People on social media are happy about the park as a tourist draw. Others think it shows how Bhopal is moving forward.
Located near Bhadbhada, the park mixes fun, learning, and business. It might bring more visitors and jobs, especially with other projects like fish parlors and cage farming worth crores announced by the CM. As work starts, locals and officials are eager to see how this Aqua Park will shape Bhopal’s future.
