Nagpur: The Maharashtra government has formally notified over 2,700 hectares in Saoner as an industrial area for the proposed Defence Nuclear Aerospace (DNA) Corridor project, paving the way for one of Vidarbha's most ambitious industrial developments in recent years.
The notification, issued by the state industries, energy, labour and mining department, covers villages including Khursapar, Joga, Jaitpur, Chhatrapur, Malegaon, Nandagomukh, Salai, Sawli and Jatamkhora. The notified land parcel spans 2,730 hectares.
Project Scope and Impact
The proposed corridor is expected to attract investments in defence manufacturing, aerospace components, drones, satellite systems, robotics, nuclear technologies, and advanced engineering sectors. Officials and industry observers believe the project could significantly reshape the industrial landscape of Nagpur and the wider Vidarbha region by generating large-scale employment and positioning the area as a specialised manufacturing hub.
The initiative aligns with the Centre's broader push for indigenous defence production and self-reliance under the "Make in India" programme.
Political and Administrative Support
The development follows months of sustained follow-up by Saoner MLA Ashish Deshmukh, who wrote to defence minister Rajnath Singh in August 2025 seeking establishment of the corridor in Saoner. In his proposal, Deshmukh highlighted the availability of large contiguous land parcels, Nagpur's strategic location, and the region's emerging industrial ecosystem.
The project gathered momentum after the state government's high-powered committee, chaired by the principal secretary (industries), approved acquisition of more than 2,721 hectares in April this year.
Deshmukh said the notification marked a turning point for the region's industrial future. "This notification is a major milestone in the efforts to establish the Defence, Nuclear and Aerospace Corridor in Saoner. It will provide unprecedented momentum to industrial growth in Saoner, Nagpur and the entire Vidarbha region," he said.
The MLA also thanked chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the industries department for expediting the process. The proposed corridor is expected to strengthen Maharashtra's presence in the rapidly expanding defence and aerospace manufacturing sector at a time when states across India are competing to attract strategic industrial investments.
