A total area of 2,729.82 Ha comprising Joga, Jaitpur, Chhatrapur, Khursapar, Malegaon (Jo.), Nandagomukh, Salai, Sawli (Mo.) and Jatamkhora earmarked for the project 

 

The Department of Industries, Energy, Labour and Mining, Government of Maharashtra has issued a new industrial area notification in Saoner taluka for the proposed ambitious Defence Nuclear Aerospace (DNA) Corridor Project. The decision notified on June 12, marks a significant step towards the establishment of the proposed project which has opened a new chapter in the industrial history of Vidarbha.

 

The notification under Section 2(g) of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act, 1961, declared a vast area comprising the villages of Khursapar, Joga, Jaitpur, Chhatrapur, Malegaon (Jo.), Nandagomukh, Salai, Sawli (Mo.) and Jatamkhora in Saoner taluka for the project. The notification states that a total area of 2,729.82 hectares comprising Khursapar (124.191 ha), Joga (563.47 ha), Jaitpur (332.6439 ha), Chhatrapur (38.56 ha), Malegaon (Jo.) (592.75 ha), Nandagomukh (353.68 ha), Salai (174.05 ha), Sawli (Mo.) (258.72 ha) and Jatamkhora (291.76 ha) has been officially declared as an industrial area for the proposed project. The notification is expected to promote industries related to aerospace (aircraft, drones and satellite components), defence manufacturing (weapons, missiles and ammunition), nuclear technologies, robotics and advanced engineering in Saoner.

 

The region is poised to emerge as a major industrial hub in the country in near future. The project is expected to generate thousands of employment opportunities for local youth while attracting substantial industrial investment. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting ‘Make in India’ and achieving self-reliance in the defence sector, Defence Corridors (DNA) are being developed across the country. The success of this significant initiative is largely attributed to the persistent and well-planned efforts of Saoner MLA Dr Ashishrao Deshmukh, who has been consistently pursuing the establishment of the DNA corridor for a long time.

 

He personally inspected the proposed project area and made efforts at various levels to advance the proposal. As a result of his initiatives, the 186th meeting of the State Government’s High-Powered Committee, chaired by the Principal Secretary (Industries) at Mantralaya on April 8, 2026, approved the acquisition of more than 2,721.9491 hectares (6,725.98 acres) of land in the Saoner Industrial Area. Reacting to the notification, Saoner MLA Dr Ashishrao Deshmukh expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Industries Department and the Government of Maharashtra.