Nagpur: In a major step towards accelerating industrial growth in Vidarbha, the Government of Maharashtra has approved the acquisition of more than 2,700 hectares of land in Saoner for the proposed Defence Nuclear Aerospace (DNA) Corridor.
The approval was granted by the state’s high-powered committee during its 186th meeting held at Mantralaya in Mumbai on April 8, chaired by the Principal Secretary (Industries). Officials said the decision will help fast-track the development of a major defence and aerospace manufacturing hub in Nagpur district.
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According to the proposal, 2,721.9491 hectares (about 6,725.98 acres) of land in Saoner tehsil will be acquired for the project. Of this, 2,601.2091 hectares belong to private landowners, while 120.74 hectares are government land. The acquisition process will be carried out under provisions of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act, 1961.
The proposed corridor is envisioned as a multi-sector industrial ecosystem focusing on advanced manufacturing. Industries related to aerospace production such as aircraft, drones and satellite components are expected to operate from the corridor. The project will also cater to defence manufacturing including weapons, missiles and ammunition, along with emerging sectors like nuclear technologies, robotics and advanced engineering, potentially transforming Saoner into a major industrial hub in central India.
The initiative is in line with the Union Government’s push for self-reliance in defence production under the Make in India programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Defence industrial corridors are already under development in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra has proposed inclusion of key Vidarbha districts such as Nagpur, Amravati and Wardha in its DNA corridor plan.
Welcoming the development, Saoner MLA Ashish Deshmukh said the decision was the result of sustained efforts and follow-up with both the State and Central governments. Deshmukh had earlier written to Rajnath Singh in August 2025 highlighting Saoner’s suitability for establishing the corridor.
He also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, stating that the proactive approach of the state leadership helped expedite the approval.
According to Deshmukh, the proposed corridor is expected to attract large-scale industrial investments, create employment opportunities for local youth and significantly boost the long-term economic development of Nagpur district and the entire Vidarbha region.
