Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday, 10 May announced a ₹4,080 crore development package for Madhya Pradesh, covering rural roads and housing, at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Bherunda, Sehore district. The event was held in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and marks one of the largest single-day rural infrastructure announcements for the state in recent years.

Key Approvals and Allocations

The package comprises three distinct tranches. Madhya Pradesh received approvals worth ₹1,763 crore under PMGSY-IV for rural road construction, ₹261.81 crore under PM-JANMAN projects, and ₹2,055 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for rural housing. The state has also been allocated ₹830 crore out of the national PMGSY budget for 2026-27.

Roads and Habitations to Benefit

Under PMGSY-IV, 973 roads covering 2,117 km will be constructed, benefiting approximately 987 habitations. In Vidisha alone, 259 roads spanning 600 km have been approved, with projects worth over ₹500 crore earmarked for the constituency. Under PM-JANMAN, an additional 384 km of roads will be built, benefiting 168 habitations in tribal and underserved areas.

Chouhan, who also holds the portfolio of Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, emphasised that roads serve as gateways to prosperity, education, healthcare, and markets. He assured that all eligible roads in Madhya Pradesh meeting PMGSY criteria would be sanctioned.

Housing and Women Empowerment Commitments

Chouhan formally handed over the ₹2,055 crore PMAY-G sanction to Chief Minister Yadav, pledging that every poor family would receive a permanent house following physical verification. He also stressed the acceleration of the Lakhpati Didi campaign, promising to fast-track self-help group initiatives for women's economic empowerment.

Addressing farmers at the event, Chouhan pledged that no eligible farmer would face injustice in wheat procurement and assured resolution of pending verification issues.

Political Context

The event carried a visible political dimension. Chouhan praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and drew a sharp contrast between what he described as the Congress's neglect of rural development in earlier decades and Madhya Pradesh's current standing as a leader in rural road construction. Chief Minister Yadav echoed these remarks, reiterating the state government's commitment to fulfilling public demands in coordination with the Union government.

This comes amid the BJP's sustained focus on rural welfare as a political differentiator ahead of upcoming electoral cycles. With the PMGSY now in its 25th year, the scale of Sunday's announcements signals a renewed push to consolidate gains in rural constituencies across the state.