Bhopal, May 11 (IANS) A meeting of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at the Mantralaya, resulted in several landmark decisions aimed at strengthening infrastructure, expanding healthcare, improving irrigation facilities, and enhancing social security across Madhya Pradesh.

The Council approved financial allocations exceeding Rs 29,540 crore for diverse developmental works and welfare schemes, reflecting the government’s commitment to holistic growth, a press statement said.

A major provision of Rs 15,598 crore was sanctioned for the scrutiny and approval of publicly funded programs and schemes under the Finance Department during the tenure of the 16th Central Finance Commission from April 2026 to March 2031.

This includes Rs 683.50 crore for establishing treasuries, Rs 13,818.32 crore for settling pending liabilities, and Rs 1,096.45 crore for accounts training schools, asset maintenance, divisional offices, and IT-related projects.

To strengthen urban infrastructure, Rs 6,900 crore was approved for the construction and upgradation of municipal roads.

Of this, Rs 2,100 crore will be used for new construction and upgradation, while Rs 4,800 crore will go toward reinforcing existing roads.

In the social security sector, Rs 6,115.99 crore was sanctioned for pensions under the “Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme,” ensuring monthly support for elderly citizens living below the poverty line, the statement said.

Healthcare expansion received a boost with a revised sanction of Rs 763.40 crore for establishing MBBS, nursing, and paramedical colleges in Budni, Sehore district.

The plan includes a new medical college with 100 MBBS seats, a 500-bed hospital, and dedicated nursing and paramedical colleges. Irrigation facilities will be strengthened through the Khumansingh Shivaji Reservoir Micro-Irrigation Project in Neemuch district, approved at a cost of Rs 163.95 crore, benefiting 22 villages and 5,200 hectares of farmland.

The Council also raised the discretionary grant for Ministers of State from Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000 per case, enabling greater flexibility in addressing local needs.

To accelerate road construction, approvals were granted for price adjustments in asphalt paving works under Rs 10 crore and monthly rate adjustments in EPC and HAM projects executed by MPRDC.

Additionally, the construction cost of the multi-level parking facility at the High Court in Jabalpur, estimated at Rs 94.16 crore, was exempted from departmental index calculations.

--IANS

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