Once known for its potholed roads and dark, unkempt streets, Bhopal is undergoing a remarkable makeover as it prepares to host the Global Investor Summit on February 24-25. From sparkling streetlights to vibrant murals and meticulously manicured gardens, the city is almost unrecognizable.

Citizens who remember the city's previous state are now calling it "a dream come true," as they marvel at the changes unfolding before their eyes. For many, this isn't just a facelift – it's a complete reinvention of their hometown.

A resident of Ashoka Garden, Amit Tiwari, an engineer, said, "For the first time, the roads are looking so smooth and shiny. Earlier, there were potholes everywhere, but now it is fun to drive. Traffic has also become smoother."

School teacher Ruchi Verma, who lives in Shahjahanabad, liked this change the most. She says, "The wonderful paintings on the walls of Bhopal have given the city a cultural identity. Every intersection now has something new to see."

An auto driver from MP Nagar, Salman Khan, said, "Travelling at night has become safer now. Street lights have become brighter in every lane and intersection. Earlier, it used to be dark, which used to scare us."

A housewife, Sarla Mishra, who lives in Rachna Nagar and was buying vegetables from a cart, said, "The footpaths were so bad that it was difficult to walk, but now they look like new. This is very beneficial for the elderly and children."

Retired army officer Sandeep Joshi, who lives near New Market and goes for a walk at the Boat Club every morning, says, "Gardens now really look like gardens! The grass has been cut properly, fountains have been started, and the seating facilities have also improved."

New Market sidewalk vendor Raju Yadav is happy with the change. He says, "There was always garbage here, but now the cleanliness is so good that customers do not face any problems sitting. This change should continue." Roaming in New Market, TT Nagar resident Anita Dubey excitedly said, "I had never seen so many beautiful pots and flowers at the city's intersections before. Bhopal now looks like a big metro city."

Hotelier Asad Mansuri expressed his happiness. "For the first time, there will be so many hotels. Because of this summit, every hotel is full. Business will benefit a lot from this."

Vinod Gupta, who works at a petrol pump and travels by bus every day, believes, "Now new benches have been installed at bus stops and parks, providing better seating facilities. This is a very good step for passengers."

Priyanka Sharma, a manager in an IT company, believes, "Now the city has started looking clean and attractive. Earlier, there was dust and garbage everywhere, but now the cleanliness is so good that it brings joy."

Satendra Chauhan, working for a private firm, said, "Nothing new was seen in the city for a long time, but this time the change is so big that the picture of Bhopal has completely changed."

Arvind Pandey, a resident of Patrakar Colony, said, "Earlier, it seemed that Bhopal was left behind in the Smart City Project, but now it truly looks smart."

Neha Verma, who works at a beauty parlour in Kolar, said, "Security has also increased due to street lights. Especially women and children can now go out without fear."

Chemist Deepak Srivastava, who lives in the BHEL area, says, "Seeing New Bhopal, it seems that if the administration wants, the city can be made beautiful and organized.

Now, we hope that this will not just be for the summit, but will be a permanent change." UPSC aspirant Anuj Mishra, from Danish Nagar, expressed his happiness and said, "Now Bhopal will not only be known for its lakes but also for its beauty and development. This change is historic."