No, It is not compulsory for first-year students to opt for Hostel facilities at LNCT Bhopal. However, if you are going to be in Bhopal for the first time or if you are unfamiliar with the city, I would recommend staying in a hostel at LNCT Bhopal.
The benefits of opting for a hostel as a first-year student (or fresher) at LNCT are as follows.
There are many other benefits of choosing Hostel facilities at LNCT which you would realize only after joining the college. You can travel to marketplaces or other spots of the city with local buses that are readily available every 15 minutes from the campus of LNCT. Local modes of transportation like Auto are also available near the premises of the college.