Over ₹3,000 crore road projects, AIIMS Cancer Unit, new medical colleges, and solar expansion to power state development.
BHOPAL (Madhya Pradesh): The year 2026 is set to mark a turning point for Madhya Pradesh with a strong lineup of major infrastructure, healthcare, railway, energy, and development projects. From six-lane highways to world-class cancer care, the state is gearing up for a period of rapid progress and improved quality of life for citizens.
The government has rolled out a new vision focusing on public welfare, private collaboration, and modernization. Several projects are scheduled to start or finish this year, boosting connectivity, healthcare access, education, tourism, and green energy generation.
Modern Healthcare Expansion Across the State
Healthcare will see a major boost in 2026 as new medical institutions and advanced treatment facilities come up across Madhya Pradesh. Two private medical colleges will be established at Katni and Panna under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Foundation stones have also been laid for medical colleges in Dhar and Betul, aiming to expand both education and healthcare reach — especially in underserved tribal regions.
Under this model, private players will invest in construction and operations while using government land. These colleges will be attached to existing district hospitals to ensure practical training and local service delivery. Ayushman Bharat cardholders will continue to receive treatment benefits, while others will be charged market rates. With this, MBBS seats and specialist care availability will grow significantly, strengthening the medical ecosystem of the state.
At Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal, a Centre of Excellence for Orthopaedics worth ₹97 crore will become operational in 2026. The facility will offer advanced treatments such as limb reconstruction, joint replacement, spine and sports injury surgery, and pelviacetabular reconstruction.
The GMC will also see the opening of a Regional Institute of Respiratory Diseases specializing in TB, COPD, asthma, and other pulmonary issues. Cancer care facilities at GMC are also being upgraded with new PET-CT scanners and Linear Accelerator systems to reduce waiting times and provide faster, integrated treatment.
AIIMS Bhopal’s First Centralised Cancer Block
Madhya Pradesh will finally get its first dedicated cancer block at AIIMS Bhopal by 2026. This centralised facility will integrate all cancer care services — including diagnosis, chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, targeted therapy, stem cell treatment, and counselling — under one roof.
Equipped with advanced technologies like Gamma Knife and PET-CT scanners, the new unit aims to drastically cut diagnosis waiting periods, which currently extend from six months to a year for certain tests. This milestone facility will not only improve critical patient care but will also make AIIMS Bhopal one of India’s leading oncology hubs.
Roads, Flyovers, and Faster Highways
Infrastructure development continues to be a key focus area for the Madhya Pradesh government. A 45-km six-lane greenfield Indore–Ujjain Highway will be completed by December 2026. Designed as an access-controlled, signal-free road, it will feature two flyovers, two railway overbridges, and several underpasses. The project will reduce travel time between the two cities to less than 30 minutes — a significant boost ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
Similarly, a 200-km Jabalpur–Dindori four-lane highway is also on track for completion in December 2026. This will improve connectivity across central and eastern Madhya Pradesh, facilitating faster movement of goods, tourism, and regional growth.
Meanwhile, in Bhopal, two new six-lane flyovers are reshaping city travel. The Bairagarh Flyover, under construction at a cost of ₹305 crore, will ease heavy traffic flow, while another ₹305 crore, 850-metre-long flyover at Khajuri (11 Mile Junction) will help decongest the busy Bhopal Bypass–Indore corridor — benefiting nearly two to three lakh daily commuters.
Bundelkhand and Railways on Fast Track
To fast-track industrial and tourism development, the ambitious Bundelkhand Vikas Path project worth ₹3,357 crore will transform the region into an economic corridor linking major highways. The corridor will serve as a lifeline for trade, logistics, and connectivity in the Bundelkhand area, forming part of the larger state plan to launch multiple Pragati Paths by 2026.
On the railway front, two new Vande Bharat services — Bhopal–Lucknow and Bhopal–Patna — will roll out in 2026. The Bhopal–Lucknow route will operate as a day train with chair car and executive coaches, while Bhopal–Patna will be introduced as India’s first sleeper-category Amrit Bharat train, offering First AC, Second AC, and Third AC berths.
From January 1, 2026, the Bhopal Railway Division will also introduce a new timetable affecting 25 trains, including services to Rewa, Jodhpur, and Pune. The schedule changes are aimed at improving punctuality and operational efficiency.
Solar Power Surge for a Greener MP
In a significant step toward energy sustainability, Madhya Pradesh plans to double its green energy capacity from 7,203.5 MW to 15,000 MW by 2026. The expansion will include 4,186 MW of solar and 3,646 MW of wind energy capacity.
Building on the success of the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Park, the upcoming Morena Solar Park will add advanced energy storage systems to ensure power supply beyond daylight hours, reinforcing the state’s commitment to renewable energy.
Government Reforms and Work Culture
Alongside these infrastructure and development pushes, the state has also introduced a new government holiday calendar starting January 1, 2026. Under the five-day work week, there will be 238 working days and 127 holidays, aligning the state workforce with modern administrative practices while improving work-life balance.
Looking Ahead
With major investments in roads, healthcare, railways, green energy, and education, 2026 is set to be a transformative year for Madhya Pradesh. The roadmap reflects a powerful combination of public-private partnership, technological advancement, and citizen-focused governance — signaling bigger gains and a brighter future for the heart of India.
