Maha approves land acquisition for nuclear-aerospace corridor in Saoner

Nagpur: The state's high-powered committee on industries has approved acquisition of 6,700 acres in Saoner for a defence nuclear aerospace (DNA) corridor, modelled around the corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as well as a fertiliser complex by PSU — Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). The fertiliser complex is dubbed to be among the six such facilities planned in the country. The nearest such complex is planned at Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, which borders Vidarbha's Gondia district. The proposed GAIL plant would also make ammonium nitrate, a key input for explosives makers.Of the 6,700 acres of land to be acquired by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), 800 acres would go to GAIL, and the rest will be earmarked for units in the defence, aerospace and nuclear sectors, said sources. Teams of GAIL officials have visited the site recently and expressed willingness to start the project in Saoner. The land acquisition plan was cleared after that, said sources privy to the development.Saoner MLA Ashish Deshmukh, who had been pushing for the twin projects, had written to defence minister Rajnath Singh in August 2025 and made a presentation emphasising advantages of setting up the DNA corridor in Saoner. He also visited the proposed site, which led to approval of land acquisition by the high-power committee, said a note from Deshmukh's office.Deshmukh hailed the development, calling it a major step towards development of the region. Similar corridors have been proposed by the state in Wardha, Amravati and Ahilyanagar. Though land acquisition has been cleared for Saoner so far, said sources.He told TOI that GAIL's fertiliser complex and the DNA corridor will complement each other. There is a proposal to have a separate line for manufacturing of ammonium nitrate, a key ingredient for making explosives. The initiative holds significance amidst the west Asia conflict. Availability of ammonium nitrate would also draw explosives makers to the corridor. The plant is expected to add to the country's self-reliance on fertilisers too, he said.Deshmukh said even Rashtriya Chemical Fertilisers is expected to have a small stake in the fertiliser complex. Sources said the corridor will also be open to industries in the chemical sector as well as any fresh unit coming up in Nagpur district. As the existing MIDC estates are full, the new units would be accommodated at Saoner.
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