BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, on Tuesday approved key proposals worth ₹10,630 crore aimed at accelerating infrastructure, healthcare, cybersecurity and social welfare projects across the state.
A major focus of the Cabinet decisions was road infrastructure, with the government approving a ₹4,600-crore guarantee for a loan to the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) from NABARD Infrastructure Development Assistance (NIDA). The loan will finance the construction of 12 roads and strengthen connectivity across the state.
The projects include Bhopal-Vidisha, Khalghat-Manawar-Mangod, Mandsaur-Sitamau, Sitamau-Basai-Suwasra, the Eastern Bhopal Bypass, Neemuch-Manasa-Rampura-Jhalawar, Indore-Depalpur, Chapda-Newari-Dewas, Dinara-Datia-Seondha, Agar-Sarangpur, Soyat-Machalpur-Jirapur, Rahatgarh-Khurai-Khimalasa and Sundra-Singhpur-Kothi-Birsinghpur-Semariya-Gohda-Sirmour. The Eastern Bhopal Bypass will be widened from four to six lanes, while the Indore-Depalpur road will be widened to four lanes.
In another significant decision, ownership of 22 major highways, district roads and rural roads will be transferred to MPRDC at a nominal value. In return, the Corporation’s Board of Directors will issue shares to the state government. Loan repayment and interest will be serviced through toll collections and other revenues generated from the transferred roads. The Madhya Pradesh Highway Fund Act, 2012, will also be amended to recognise these revenues as direct income of MPRDC.
The Cabinet also approved ₹3,960.09 crore for widening the 91.64-km Seoni-Balaghat road into a four-lane road with paved shoulders. The project will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model, with ₹704.38 crore of construction cost funded through the state budget and ₹2,253.39 crore paid through semi-annual annuities over a 15-year operation period. Another ₹501.16 crore has been approved for land acquisition and other pre-construction activities.
The Seoni-Balaghat route is strategically important for connectivity with NH-44, NH-543 and NH-543A and provides access to the Malanjkhand Copper Project, Bharveli Manganese Mines, Kanha and Pench tiger reserves and Chhattisgarh. The upgraded road is expected to improve logistics, tourism and connectivity for an estimated population of 8 to 10 lakh.
Beyond infrastructure, the Cabinet approved ₹1,740 crore for the continued implementation of 19 schemes for poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged sections during 2026-31. It also sanctioned 244 posts for Madhya Pradesh Dhanwantri Health University in Ujjain, including 154 regular, one contractual and 89 outsourced positions.
The Cabinet further approved ₹80 crore for the continued operation of the State Computer Security Incident/Response Operation Centre under the MP-CERT scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31. The initiative includes technical and cybersecurity manpower and an annual programme to train engineering graduates in cybersecurity.
Other decisions included approval of ₹250.67 crore for the operation and upgradation of Madhya Pradesh Bhawan and related offices in New Delhi, amendments to the Land Purchase Policy through Mutual Consent, authorisation for the Economic Offences Wing to act under corresponding provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and ₹78 lakh in incentives for Madhya Pradesh players and coaches who were part of India’s winning Women’s T20 Blind Cricket World Cup 2025 team.