The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet meeting in Khajuraho on Tuesday approved major industrial, road, health, irrigation and fire service decisions, with a strong focus on accelerating development in Bundelkhand and creating the state’s third cheetah habitat at Nauradehi. The Cabinet cleared a special incentive package for the Maswasi Grant industrial area in Sagar to draw investment and generate jobs in Bundelkhand.
Land allotment and annual lease have been fixed at Rs 1 per sq metre, while development charges can be paid in 20 annual instalments. Maintenance is set at Rs 8 per sq metre per year to reduce the burden on early-stage units.
The package includes full reimbursement of stamp duty and registration fees and a five-year exemption from electricity duty from the start of commercial production. The state expects Rs 24,240 crore in new investment and more than 29,000 direct jobs. Large units will fall under the Industrial Promotion Policy 2025, while MSMEs will be covered under the MSME Development Policy 2025. Cement plants will not be eligible for the incentives, which will remain in force for five years.
For road infrastructure, the Cabinet approved an administrative sanction of Rs 2,059 crore to widen the 76.680-km Sagar–Damoh stretch into a four-lane corridor under the Hybrid Annuity Model. The state will also spend Rs 323.41 crore on land acquisition. The project includes 13 underpasses, three major bridges, nine medium bridges, one ROB, 13 major junctions and 42 medium junctions. The Government approved 990 regular and 615 outsourced posts to operate the new medical colleges at Damoh, Chhatarpur and Budhni.
It also cleared the upgradation of 12 health facilities in 11 districts, creating 345 regular posts and three contractual roles, and permitting 136 outsourced appointments to support expanded capacity.
The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 165.06 crore for the Jhapan Nala Medium Irrigation Project in Tendukheda, which will irrigate 3,600 hectares across 17 villages. It also approved sending 600 OBC youths to Japan and Germany for employment over two years under a Social Impact Bond arrangement.
For wildlife conservation, the Cabinet gave in-principle approval to develop the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve at Nauradehi as the third cheetah habitat in the state. Madhya Pradesh currently hosts 28 cheetahs at Kuno and two at Gandhi Sagar, with eight more arriving from Botswana in January.
