BUILDING CITIES OF TOMORROW THROUGH URBAN TRANSFORMATION

Q Madhya Pradesh is expected to see a sharp rise in urbanisation by 2047. How is the government planning for this growth?

Kailash Vijayvargiya: We don’t believe in creating concrete jungles; we are building the engines of a new Madhya Pradesh. By 2047, around half the population is expected to live in urban areas. We see this as an opportunity to accelerate economic growth, not a challenge to contain. Our focus is urban transformation, not expansion. We want cities that evolve rather than simply spread outward. This transformation is guided by ETC: Economic growth, Technology and Climate resilience. Every city we shape will focus on becoming an economic growth hub, adopting technology-enabled governance and following a climate resilient approach to development.

Q How will metropolitan development change the growth story of Indore and Bhopal?

Kailash Vijayvargiya: This is not the story of two cities; it is the story of an entire region rising together. Indore and Bhopal have outgrown their municipal boundaries economically and demographically. We therefore passed the Madhya Pradesh Metropolitan Region Planning and Development Act, 2025, to develop them as full metropolitan regions. The Indore Metropolitan Region will bring together Indore, Ujjain, Dewas and Dhar, while Bhopal will include Sehore, Raisen, Vidisha and Rajgarh. The aim is to distribute growth, infrastructure and employment more intelligently, so people do not have to migrate into the core city simply to access opportunity. The Authority will prepare integrated plans covering infrastructure, employment, governance and regional connectivity. This will reduce pressure on the core cities and create opportunities in peri urban areas.

Q What kind of investment does the Integrated Township Policy 2025 seek to attract?

Kailash Vijayvargiya: We want developers who think in holistic townships, not just in plots. The Integrated Township Policy, 2025 aims to replace disconnected colonies with self-sufficient townships with social and physical infrastructure. We are looking for mixed-use communities, employment hubs, affordable housing, green buildings and modern infrastructure. The policy offers Green FAR for wooded areas, additional FAR for green buildings and renewable energy projects, and incentives for developers exceeding the affordable housing quota, up to 30% of units, for EWS and LIG families. A “Work Center” within townships will allow people to live, work and access services closer to home.

Q With more than 42,000 houses sanctioned under PMAY-U 2.0 in June, what are the next priorities?

Kailash Vijayvargiya: Every sanctioned house is not a number; it is a family’s first step to dignity. At a programme in Sanwer, Indore, more than 42,000 beneficiaries received sanctions carrying a subsidy of Rs. 1,050 crore, while 38,000 families performed Grih Pravesh. Madhya Pradesh has crossed 10 lakh houses sanctioned and 9 lakh completed under PMAY-U 1.0 and 2.0. Our priority is to move from sanctioning at scale to accessibility at scale, strengthening delivery for EWS and LIG families and making affordable housing a bankable business line. We are encouraging private participation through PMAY-U 2.0’s Affordable Housing in Partnership and Affordable Rental Housing verticals. Every eligible family should have a clear path to a home.


Madhya Pradesh is preparing for faster urban growth with a focus on stronger cities, metropolitan planning, affordable housing, green infrastructure and a bigger role for private developers.


Q What changes can citizens expect in transport, water, green spaces and waste management?

Kailash Vijayvargiya: It would be ironic to talk about “concrete changes” when the conversation is about green cities. We are not building concrete; we are building canopy. Under “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, more than 40,000 people in Indore resolved to plant 51 lakh trees. On July 13-14, more than 12.41 lakh trees were planted at Revati Range in a day, earning Guinness World Records recognition. The focus has shifted from planting to nurturing, with nine zones, 100 sub-zones, cameras, a nursery and replacement mechanism. Treated STP water is used for irrigation. This year, “Ped Lagao Pani Bachao” will add 21 lakh trees and 51,000 rainwater harvesting structures. Indore and Bhopal now have operational metro services. Comprehensive Mobility Plans have been prepared for major cities, alongside expansion of the PM e-Bus Sewa fleet. The state has launched a Rs. 5,000-crore Dwarkanagri Yojna for water supply, sewerage, roads and urban transport. Indore’s source segregation, door-to-door collection and bio-CNG model is being replicated. An Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Programme will clear legacy waste and reclaim urban land.

Q What role should real estate play in Madhya Pradesh’s urban transformation?

Kailash Vijayvargiya: Real estate is not just about building structures; it is about building the future of our cities. We want developers as partners, not just permit-holders. Developers must become co architects of planned urbanisation. Wider roads, green cover and in-house sewage treatment should become standard. We are finalising a law against illegal colony development, which defrauds buyers and leaves cities poorly planned. We want developers to see affordable housing as a market opportunity and participate in townships, redevelopment and redensification. The Hukumchand Mill land in Indore, tied up in legal disputes for decades, has now been cleared of liabilities, and we are inviting leading developers to create an iconic, green township there. Madhya Pradesh is reducing regulatory hurdles. Building permissions are fully online, unnecessary NOCs have been cut and a single-window mechanism is being strengthened. We are working towards time-bound approvals and better integration with revenue and registration records. Finally, Simhastha 2028 is expected to bring crores of pilgrims to Ujjain, along with fresh investment in infrastructure and hospitality. Madhya Pradesh offers room for growth. Come with capital, technology and ideas; we will provide an enabling policy environment. But our shared commitment must be to build profitable projects, but cities people are proud to live in.