Khandwa, Khargone and Burhanpur may exit Indore division:Each Bhopal assembly to get one tehsil; dispute intensifies over transfer of six Maihar-Rewa border villages

Madhya Pradesh is heading toward one of its most significant administrative transformations in decades. The state government is working on a comprehensive plan to redraw the administrative and geographical map by creating three new districts and one new division. This large-scale restructuring aims to bring governance closer to the people, improve administrative efficiency, and ensure better coordination between political and bureaucratic units. However, the move also comes with its own share of political sensitivities and regional disputes, especially concerning the boundaries of districts like Rewa, Maihar, and Bhopal. The Administrative Reorganization Commission, formed in September 2024, has been tasked with executing this plan under the supervision of the Revenue Department. The Commission aims to complete all groundwork by December 2025, adhering to the Census Directorate’s guidelines that require administrative boundaries to be frozen before the national census begins. Once the freeze is imposed, no new administrative units—districts, tehsils, or divisions—can be created until the census process concludes. As of now, fieldwork has already been completed in 25 districts, while the remaining ones will be covered in the next three months. The Commission’s report is expected to serve as the foundation for what could become one of the most significant redistricting exercises in Madhya Pradesh’s history. Scientific demarcation with the help of IIPA To ensure that the new administrative boundaries are drawn with scientific precision, the Commission has partnered with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in New Delhi. The IIPA will provide technical support by using drones and satellite imagery to prepare detailed geographical and demographic maps. The Commission has already written to the IIPA seeking their assistance. Using advanced technology, IIPA will prepare aerial and satellite-based maps to capture current administrative realities. These will then be analyzed to produce a technical report, outlining the most logical boundary divisions. However, officials have clarified that these findings will not be the sole basis for decisions. The Commission plans to cross-check all technical data with citizen feedback, local representatives’ opinions, and on-ground realities before finalizing the proposals. Public consultation is an integral part of this process. In the 25 districts where the groundwork is complete, the Commission has already held multiple district-level and tehsil-level meetings, while also collecting suggestions through a dedicated online portal. Bhopal to get 8 Tehsils for better governance The impact of the reorganization will be most visible in Bhopal, the state capital. Currently, Bhopal district has only three tehsils—Huzur, Kolar, and Berasia. Of these, Huzur is the largest, encompassing both rural and urban regions. This vast jurisdiction often hampers administrative efficiency, causing delays in service delivery and increased workload on local officers. To streamline governance, the Commission has proposed creating five new tehsils within the city. These will include City (Old Bhopal), Sant Hirdaram Nagar (Bairagarh), Govindpura, TT Nagar, and MP Nagar. With the addition of these, Bhopal will have eight tehsils in total. The boundaries of these tehsils will be aligned with assembly constituencies to ensure smoother coordination between elected representatives and administrative officers. The new structure is expected to reduce bureaucratic congestion, decentralize authority, and improve accessibility to government services for citizens. Rewa-Maihar border tension over 6 villages While administrative reorganization promises efficiency, it has also sparked controversy and tension in certain areas. A dispute has emerged between Rewa and Maihar over the proposed transfer of six villages—Mukundpur, Dhaubahat, Ameen, Parsiya, Anandgarh, and Papra—from Maihar’s Amarpatan tehsil to Rewa district. The proposal stems from the fact that Mukundpur is home to the world-famous White Tiger Safari, established by Maharaja Martand Singh Judeo. The safari is just 20 kilometers from Rewa, whereas it lies 65 kilometers from Maihar and 50 kilometers from Satna, the former district headquarters. Locals have long demanded that the villages be shifted to Rewa for administrative convenience, arguing that most of their economic and social interactions occur there. The Commission’s recommendation has reignited this debate, leading to strong reactions from both sides. The Maihar district administration has been directed to gather inputs from villagers and local leaders before preparing a report. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has also instructed officials to conduct a public hearing on the issue. However, opposition to the proposal has been fierce. Satna MP Ganesh Singh has written to Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, warning that the move would disturb Maihar’s cultural and geographical identity. He described the proposal as “a conspiracy to weaken Maihar’s stature” and insisted that the White Tiger Safari is a matter of pride for the region. Political friction has also emerged between Maihar-Satna leaders and Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla, who later attempted to clarify his stance through a social media post.
Sihohra’s demand for district status gains steam again Another long-pending demand that has resurfaced amid the reorganization process is the creation of a Sihohra district. Sihohra, currently a tehsil under Jabalpur district, has been seeking district status for over two decades. The demand first gained traction in 2002, when then Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh reportedly approved the proposal. However, the move stalled due to the enforcement of the election code of conduct, and subsequent political changes saw the issue shelved indefinitely. Recently, Sihohra residents reignited their agitation in a dramatic way—by lighting lamps with their own blood on the eve of Diwali. The protest, organized by the Sihohra Movement Committee, symbolized the “burning pain and neglect” the town has endured for years. Residents vowed to continue their movement until Sihohra is declared an independent district.
Proposed new Districts and Division 1. Pipariya – Emerging as a likely new district Pipariya, currently under the Narmadapuram district, lies about 70 kilometers from the district headquarters. Due to the hilly terrain, the journey takes over two hours, making administrative work cumbersome. Residents have been demanding district status for several years, staging protests and strikes during the 2023 assembly elections. The Commission now appears poised to endorse Pipariya as a new district, fulfilling a long-standing local aspiration. 2. Bina – Demand set to get official approval The demand to create the Bina district has been pending for nearly four decades. Bina, located about 75 kilometers from Sagar, serves as a major industrial and railway hub. The Commission is likely to approve its creation soon. The new district could encompass Khurai, Bina, Malthone, Bandri, Kurwai, Pathari, and the proposed Khimlasa Tehsil. However, internal political tussles have emerged as Khurai also vies for district headquarters status. 3. Nimar – To become the 11th division of Madhya Pradesh Perhaps the most transformative part of the reorganization plan is the proposal to form a new Nimar Division. This would involve separating Khargone, Barwani, Burhanpur, and Khandwa from the Indore Division. The demand for a separate Nimar division dates back to 2012, when the Revenue Department first sought proposals from local administrations. Although progress stalled, the issue was revived after Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav’s review meeting in Khargone on January 1, 2024, where the plan was discussed in detail. If approved, Nimar would become Madhya Pradesh’s 11th division. The change would decentralize revenue and administrative appeals, allowing hearings to be conducted in Khargone rather than Indore. This would significantly reduce travel time for officials, improve coordination, and enhance developmental oversight across the Nimar region. Once Nimar Division is carved out, the Indore Division will comprise only four districts—Indore, Dhar, Jhabua, and Alirajpur. The road ahead With the Administrative Reorganization Commission expected to submit its final report by December 2025, Madhya Pradesh is on the brink of a historic restructuring. If implemented, the changes will create new districts, a new division, and a more efficient, people-oriented governance system. While the process promises modernization and better governance, it also carries the potential for local disputes, political maneuvering, and emotional resistance—as seen in Maihar, Rewa, and Sihohra. Yet, for many across Madhya Pradesh, this long-awaited reorganization could finally mean shorter distances to offices, quicker access to services, and a stronger local identity—ushering in a new era of administrative efficiency and inclusivity.