Indore–Pithampur Economic Corridor: CM Mohan Yadav lays foundation; farmers to get 60% developed land

Indore–Pithampur economic corridor: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the first phase of the Indore–Pithampur Economic Corridor, a Rs 2,360 crore project aimed at boosting industry, connectivity and farmer incomes. The event took place in Nanod village near Indore, where the government also showcased a short film on the corridor and received consent letters from farmers for land acquisition.

The project has drawn attention for its land model. The state has decided to return 60 per cent developed land to farmers, effectively making them stakeholders in the project. According to officials, several farmers have become owners of plots collectively valued at around Rs 650 crore.

Addressing the gathering, Yadav said the initiative reflects the government’s focus on farmer prosperity under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stressed that if land is acquired from farmers, ensuring their long-term livelihood is the government’s first responsibility.

“Farmers are not just beneficiaries but partners in development. No other state has offered 60 per cent developed land back to them,” he said. The Chief Minister added that the corridor will open new avenues for employment and self-employment, particularly benefiting youth and farmers. The corridor is part of a larger regional development plan linking Indore with cities such as Ujjain, Dhar, Dewas, Shajapur and Ratlam, gradually shaping a metropolitan cluster. The project includes an eight-lane super expressway expected to connect with the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor, improving logistics and industrial growth.

Yadav said sectors such as agro-processing, automobile, textile, engineering and warehousing will gain from improved connectivity. He highlighted India’s infrastructure push, noting that national highways now exceed 1.6 lakh km, calling it evidence of rapid progress under Modi’s leadership. The Chief Minister also targeted the opposition Indian National Congress, questioning its record on farmer welfare and infrastructure. He said electricity supply, irrigation coverage and procurement systems have improved significantly under the current government.

He claimed irrigation coverage has expanded sharply in recent years and wheat procurement has risen from 75 lakh metric tonnes last year to a targeted 100 lakh metric tonnes this year, with higher minimum support prices.

Boost to industry, jobs

Cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya described the project as a “growth centre” that will boost GDP and generate large-scale employment. Minister Tulsi Silawat said the corridor represents a new phase of industrial and economic expansion in the state.

Officials said 48 new industrial parks have already been set up in Madhya Pradesh, with investments worth Rs 9 lakh crore grounded, placing the state among the fastest-growing industrial hubs in India.

Key project features

• Around 20.28 km road connecting the Super Corridor to Pithampur investment region
• Planned development across nearly 1,316 hectares
• Total estimated cost of Rs 2,360 crore
• 75-metre-wide main road with buffer zones for future expansion
• Connectivity between National Highway 47 and National Highway 52
• Focus on balanced urbanisation and infrastructure-led growth in the Indore region