Kukru hill station gets ₹150 crore tourism circuit push by MP CM Yadav
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav has committed ₹150 crore to stitch together Kukru, Chikhaldara, Muktagiri, and Melghat into a single eco-tourism corridor — and paired it with a Coffee Board-backed ₹10 crore coffee project and a tribal homestay model. It is the state's most ambitious attempt yet to turn the Satpura belt's natural wealth into livelihoods.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Yadav announced a ₹150 crore integrated tourism circuit on 28 June linking Kukru , Chikhaldara , Muktagiri , and Melghat .
A ₹10 crore project for Robusta and Arabica coffee cultivation will be implemented with Coffee Board support.
Brand 'Kukru Natural' will market local products through women self-help groups and the Forest Department .
Tribal homestays will be run on the lines of MP Tourism Development Corporation properties, with bookings via MP Tourism .
A ₹5 crore water conservation pond and skill training in tourism, hospitality, and driving are also planned for local youth.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday, 28 June announced a ₹150 crore integrated tourism circuit to transform Kukru hill station in Betul district into a flagship eco-tourism destination, linking it with Chikhaldara, Muktagiri, and Melghat. The announcement signals the state government's most comprehensive push yet to unlock the tourism and livelihood potential of the Satpura belt.
What the Tourism Circuit Covers
The ₹150 crore circuit will connect four destinations — Kukru, Chikhaldara, Muktagiri, and Melghat — creating a continuous eco-tourism corridor in the tribal heartland of western Madhya Pradesh. Planned infrastructure includes sunrise and sunset viewing points, modern amenities, and adventure sports facilities such as trekking. Homestays modelled on Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation properties will be set up and managed through MP Tourism bookings, directly benefiting local tribal communities.
Kukru Natural Brand and Local Products
A dedicated brand, 'Kukru Natural', will be launched in partnership with women self-help groups and the Forest Department to process and market indigenous products including coffee, Kodo Kutki, amla, honey, Harra, Bahera, Safed Musali, and Bhilva. Dedicated dairy sales centres for ghee, mawa, and curd will also be established. A separate ₹10 crore project for Robusta and Arabica coffee cultivation and processing will be implemented with technical support from the Coffee Board, positioning Kukru as a niche coffee-growing region.
Livelihoods, Livestock and Skill Development
Beyond tourism, the plan targets broad-based economic uplift for local residents. Advanced cattle breeds will be introduced alongside the construction of cattle sheds for livestock rearers. A ₹5 crore pond will be built for water conservation. Skill training programmes in tourism, hospitality, and driving are planned for local youth. Several infrastructure demands raised by villagers were also addressed, including road construction, a bridge, a girls' hostel, a wellness centre, and a fair price shop.
CM Yadav's Visit and Other Initiatives
Chief Minister Yadav began his visit with a yoga session at the rest house premises, practising asanas including Mayurasana, Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Trikonasana, Bhujangasana, and Shalbhasana, along with pranayama techniques. He urged citizens to incorporate yoga into their daily routines. During the visit, he also launched the Pulse Polio Campaign from Kukru and administered polio drops to children.
What Comes Next
Chief Minister Yadav directed officials to prepare comprehensive action plans covering tourism, environmental conservation, and basic amenities, and assured that the development budget would be enhanced if required. With the tribal homestay model, the Kukru Natural brand, and the coffee corridor, the state is betting on community-led tourism as a replicable template for other underserved hill districts.
Point of View
Rather than routing benefits through a contractor-led infrastructure play. The Coffee Board partnership is a rare instance of central agency alignment in a state tourism project. The real test will be whether MP Tourism's booking infrastructure can generate consistent footfall for homestay operators, or whether the model stalls at the pilot stage as similar community-tourism schemes have elsewhere in central India.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ₹150 crore Kukru tourism circuit announced by CM Mohan Yadav?
It is an integrated eco-tourism corridor linking Kukru hill station in Betul district with Chikhaldara, Muktagiri, and Melghat, announced by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on 28 June. The ₹150 crore outlay covers tourism infrastructure, tribal homestays, adventure sports facilities, and sunrise-sunset viewing points.
What is the Kukru Natural brand?
'Kukru Natural' is a state-backed brand to be set up in collaboration with women self-help groups and the Forest Department to process and market local products such as coffee, amla, honey, Kodo Kutki, and dairy items like ghee and mawa.
What is the role of the Coffee Board in the Kukru project?
The Coffee Board will provide technical support for a dedicated ₹10 crore project to cultivate and process Robusta and Arabica coffee varieties in the Kukru region, potentially establishing it as a recognised coffee-growing belt.
How will local tribal communities benefit from the Kukru development plan?
Tribal residents will be able to operate homestays managed through MP Tourism bookings, receive skill training in tourism, hospitality, and driving, and participate in the Kukru Natural supply chain. Advanced cattle breeds and cattle sheds are also planned for livestock-dependent households.
What infrastructure projects were announced for Kukru villages?
In response to villagers' demands, the Chief Minister announced road construction works, a bridge, a girls' hostel, a wellness centre, and a fair price shop. A ₹5 crore water conservation pond is also part of the package.
