Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav emphasised the need for well-organised planning of rapidly growing urban areas in the state. He stated that to ensure basic amenities for the general public and to boost industrial and commercial activities, it is crucial to guide urban development in the right direction at the right time.
Two metropolitan areas will be developed in Madhya Pradesh—one comprising Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, and Dhar; and another including Bhopal, Sehore, Raisen, Vidisha, and Biaora (Rajgarh). Dr Yadav stressed the importance of strengthening the management of urban local bodies and development authorities in these regions, along with taking necessary steps to improve the financial health of these institutions.
He pointed out that the proposed areas already have substantial industrial activity, and development as metropolitan regions will accelerate investment and industrial growth.
Dr Yadav made these remarks while addressing a meeting on the formation of metropolitan areas at the Samatva Bhavan, Chief Minister’s residence. The meeting was attended by Revenue Minister Shri Karan Singh Verma, Chief Secretary Shri Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary of Urban Development and Housing Shri Sanjay Shukla, and other officials.
The Chief Minister stressed the need to enhance interconnectivity within the proposed metropolitan regions. He directed the formulation of integrated action plans for settlement planning, transportation, public transit, infrastructure, water supply, sewerage, power supply, and street lighting. Policies for protecting the regions’ natural beauty, agricultural land, forest management, watershed areas, and tourism potential should be framed with sensitivity.
Dr Yadav also stated that gram panchayats within these regions should be upgraded to municipal councils as required.
The meeting also included discussions on the existing frameworks for metropolitan development and management in the National Capital Region (Delhi), Maharashtra, Haryana, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.