THE Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, on Tuesday, approved a series of major development projects aimed at boosting irrigation, rural road connectivity, and overall infrastructure in the state. The Cabinet meeting, held at the Mantralaya in Bhopal, also included the rollout of the eCabinet system, with ministers and officials provided tablets and trained to use the platform for improved governance. But before the start of the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav addressed ministers, highlighting the Government’s priorities, achievements of the past fortnight, and key goals for the next three years.

 

He congratulated the ministers on the start of 2026 and emphasised Madhya Pradesh’s role in national development. Dr Yadav highlighted the State’s emergence as a leader in the mining sector, with 32 out of 141 mineral blocks auctioned nationwide in 2025, boosting industries like cement, steel, and bauxite. He also recounted the Abhyuday Madhya Pradesh Growth Summit in Gwalior, where over Rs 2 lakh crore in industrial and infrastructure projects were launched, alongside incentives for 860 major units.

 

The Chief Minister noted that 2026 is being celebrated as the “Agriculture Year”, with plans for farmer welfare, horticulture, food processing, and rural development. In the Cabinet meeting, a key highlight was the approval of over Rs 2,598 crore for irrigation projects in Burhanpur district, which are expected to benefit tens of thousands of farmers. The Jhirmiti Medium Irrigation Project in Khaknar tehsil, costing Rs 922.91 crore, will provide irrigation to 17,700 hectares of land across 42 villages, supporting about 11,800 farming families. Another major project, the Navatha Major Irrigation Project in Nepanagar tehsil, with a cost of Rs 1,676.06 crore, will irrigate 34,100 hectares across 90 villages, benefiting around 22,600 families.

 

These projects aim to improve agricultural productivity and ensure water availability in critical farming regions. The Cabinet also approved the continuation of the PM Janman Scheme under the Madhya Pradesh Rural Road Development Authority. The scheme, which runs from April 2026 to March 2028, has an estimated expenditure of Rs 795.45 crore. Under this program, a total of 1,039 km of roads and 112 bridges will be constructed across 22 districts, focusing on improving connectivity for the Baiga, Bhariya, and Sahariya tribal communities. The continuation of the scheme is expected to enhance access to education, healthcare, and markets for these remote tribal populations.

 

In addition, the cabinet approved the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) from April 2026 to March 2031, with an estimated outlay of Rs 17,196.21 crore. This phase will involve the construction of 20,000 km of rural roads and 1,200 new bridges across the State. The Government also sanctioned Rs 10,196.42 crore for the renovation and upgradation of existing rural roads under the PMGSY scheme. This will cover 88,517 km of roads, ensuring smoother travel, better transport of goods, and improved access to remote villages.

 

To ensure rapid implementation of irrigation projects, the Cabinet approved funding through the Narmada Basin Projects Company Limited. Under this arrangement, Ongoing projects initiated by the Narmada Valley Development Authority will be completed with financial support from the company, which will hold full ownership of the completed works. The State Government will transfer equity shares to the company equivalent to the budgetary expenditure made on these projects.

 

Currently, two major projects are being financed through this method: the Narmada-Kshipra Multipurpose Project, costing Rs 2,489.65 crore, and the Badanwar Micro Lift Irrigation Project, costing Rs 1,520.92 crore. Once completed, the revenue generated from these projects will be received as company income, creating a sustainable model for future development. The Cabinet also emphasised transparency and technology-driven governance, providing tablets to ministers and officials and training them for the eCabinet system, which aims to streamline decision-making and reduce paperwork.