Indore-Ujjain Metropolitan Region likely to include Shujalpur and Kalapipal tehsils

Indore: The Indore-Ujjain Metropolitan Region (IUMR) is again expected to see increase in its area, with authorities contemplating to include two more tehsils of Shajapur in it, which will then make it a 16,000 sq km development project.This latest expansion, fifth since the region's inception, is being made following high-level deliberations. The most significant change involves inclusion of entire Shajapur district."Following discussions at high level, we are now preparing a plan to include Shujalpur and Kalapipal tehsils of Shajapur district, which were part of Bhopal Metropolitan Region, into Indore-Ujjain Metropolitan Region. The final approval on this new plan is awaited," Indore Development Authority (IDA) CEO Parikshit Zade told TOI.If approved, the IUMR would reach a new milestone, becoming the third-largest metropolitan area in India, positioning it just behind Delhi and Lucknow in terms of geographical scale.The region encompasses one international airport, five major railway junctions, and future proposed airports in Ujjain and Ratlam. The IUMR will leverage its proximity to Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to attract large-scale national and international investment. The state govt also approved an additional Rs 900 crore to take the key 3.3 km stretch of Indore Metro underground between Khajrana Square and railway station to alleviate traffic congestion in dense urban zones.A new regional development plan is expected to be finalised within the next eight months. Officials believe this coordinated approach will prevent fragmented planning and ensure that residents in outlying areas like Dewas, Dhar, and Ratlam gain access to diverse employment opportunities without needing to migrate to the core city of Indore.The tender to prepare the IUMR plan was floated in July 2024 and thereafter, the areas of it have been changed at least four times by later including the areas of Dhar, Shajapur and Ratlam district.PointersExpanding The Devpt AreaTwo more tehsils likely to be integrated into previous plan of 35 tehsils across 6 districts taking total area of IUMR to 16,000 sq kmIn Dec 2025, IUMR was set at 14,550 sq km following integration of areas from Ratlam and DharThe original plan prepared in early 2025 covered just under 10,000 sq kmThe region is designed to function as coordinated economic hub & synchronise infrastructure development across central MP