In the state of Maharashtra, regional imbalance has remained a persistent issue since its formation in 1960.

While Western Maharashtra has witnessed significant growth in terms of infrastructure, industry, and institutions, the eastern region of Vidarbha has often struggled to receive proportional attention.

Despite being rich in resources and strategically positioned, Vidarbha has found itself overlooked during key decision-making processes for state-led projects. These decisions, taken over several decades, have contributed to the perception that Vidarbha’s needs are not prioritised equally.

Discussions around this imbalance are not based on sentiment alone. Historical reports, government documents, and independent audits have pointed to a pattern of skewed development.

The disparities are especially visible in sectors such as irrigation, electricity distribution, education, and transport. These are not isolated cases but part of a larger administrative trend that has had long-term implications for the region.

1. Persistent Irrigation Backlog Despite Official Recognition

In 1994, the State Irrigation Commission of Maharashtra officially acknowledged the severe irrigation backlog in Vidarbha, with Amravati district alone topping the list. Despite this recognition, the region received far less funding than required in subsequent budgets. For instance, while Vidarbha's irrigation backlog was estimated at over ₹55,000 crore, allocations were disproportionately low. In 2023, the state allocated only ₹2,000 crore towards addressing this gap, prompting the Bombay High Court to seek an explanation from the state government. In contrast, irrigation-intensive districts like Pune, Satara, and Sangli received larger and more sustained investments for canal and dam construction.

The issue became more glaring when it was revealed that some projects in Western Maharashtra received repeated extensions and escalated costs, while many Vidarbha projects remained either stalled or unapproved. The imbalance not only affected agricultural productivity but also deepened the distress among farmers, especially in cotton-growing belts like Yavatmal and Wardha. Several administrative committees, including the Dr Kelkar Committee, had earlier recommended targeted spending in backwards regions like Vidarbha, but implementation remained sluggish.

2. Disproportionate Growth of MIDC Zones in Western Districts

The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), tasked with facilitating industrialisation, has historically favoured Western Maharashtra for setting up large-scale industrial zones. Districts like Pune, Kolhapur, and Nashik have emerged as dominant industrial hubs, enjoying early and extensive investment. For example, Chakan and Talegaon near Pune have evolved into major auto clusters, housing global players such as Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. Meanwhile, Vidarbha, with its large tracts of land and power surplus, received limited attention during the initial phases of MIDC expansion.

Hingna MIDC in Nagpur and Butibori were among the few zones developed in Vidarbha, but their pace of expansion and infrastructure support lagged significantly behind their western counterparts. The state’s own economic surveys have shown that industrial investment intentions and approvals remained skewed, despite repeated appeals from regional industry bodies in eastern Maharashtra. A 2013 evaluation of regional investment patterns confirmed that 60 to 70 percent of major industrial investments were directed toward Western Maharashtra, further sidelining Vidarbha’s potential.

3. Power-Rich but Underserved: The Electricity Allocation Paradox

Vidarbha generates a substantial portion of Maharashtra’s electricity through thermal power plants located at Koradi, Khaparkheda, and Chandrapur. Collectively, these plants contribute a majority of the state’s energy supply. However, despite being the state’s power backbone, Vidarbha has historically suffered from load-shedding and inconsistent electricity access. Reports from the 1990s to early 2000s documented frequent blackouts in Vidarbha’s rural and semi-urban regions, even as Western Maharashtra enjoyed a relatively stable supply.

The disparity extends to the tariff structure as well. For years, consumers in Vidarbha faced higher electricity rates than industrial consumers in Western Maharashtra. This differential was justified on operational cost grounds but disproportionately impacted small businesses and agricultural users in the east. Furthermore, the Maharashtra State Electricity Board’s administrative offices and technical headquarters have remained concentrated in Mumbai and Pune, limiting decision-making representation from Vidarbha.

4. Delayed Establishment of Agricultural Institutions

Although Vidarbha is one of the most agriculturally dependent regions in Maharashtra, especially for cotton and soybean, the location of the state’s first agricultural university was in Parbhani, Marathwada, in 1972. Vidarbha had to wait longer for a similar institution. The Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth was eventually established in Akola, but it received limited financial autonomy and research grants in its early years.

Agricultural research centres in Vidarbha also struggled with manpower shortages and inadequate infrastructure. In contrast, Western Maharashtra saw stronger linkages between agricultural universities and government extension services, especially for sugarcane and horticulture sectors.

The delay in institutional strengthening in Vidarbha contributed to the slower adoption of modern techniques and lower farm output. Public policy experts noted that the research ecosystem in the east remained underdeveloped for years despite the severity of the agrarian crisis in the region.

5. Road Infrastructure and Expressway Development

While Western Maharashtra saw the rapid development of high-speed corridors like the Mumbai–Pune Expressway in the early 2000s, road infrastructure in Vidarbha remained underdeveloped. The major connectivity boost to Vidarbha came only with the Nagpur–Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg, whose construction began much later. Prior to this, regions like Bhandara, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli continued to face deteriorated road conditions, affecting inter-district travel, freight movement, and emergency services.

Public Works Department (PWD) reports from the 2000s repeatedly flagged the poor condition of roads in eastern Maharashtra.

Yet, road widening and surface repair projects were prioritised for districts in the west, where traffic density was already being managed through bypasses and expressways. Although the Samruddhi Mahamarg eventually brought better road access to Vidarbha, its delayed start reinforced the perception of late-stage inclusion.

6. Unequal Growth of Education and Skill Centres

Pune has long been promoted as the education capital of Maharashtra, with sustained state investment in universities, autonomous colleges, and skill development hubs. Vidarbha’s educational infrastructure, on the other hand, has developed slowly. Cities like Akola, Wardha, and Bhandara faced faculty shortages in government colleges and delays in upgrading infrastructure. The state's own planning commission reports noted that while professional colleges in Western Maharashtra received faster approvals, similar proposals from Vidarbha often waited for years.

Moreover, the government’s vocational training initiatives under the Skill India framework saw more aggressive rollout in Pune, Satara, and Nashik compared to Nagpur and its surrounding districts. The imbalance in educational infrastructure not only affected literacy and employability rates in Vidarbha but also led to significant student migration towards Western cities, further weakening local academic ecosystems.

7. MIHAN Project Delays Due to Inconsistent Policy Support

The Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) was launched with the promise of transforming Vidarbha into a global logistics and IT destination. However, the project has faced multiple delays since its inception in the early 2000s. Audit reports and media investigations have pointed to slow land acquisition, irregular funding disbursal, and a lack of inter-departmental coordination.

While projects like the Hinjewadi IT Park in Pune witnessed streamlined approvals and support, MIHAN struggled to attract anchor clients for years. Several multinational companies that initially showed interest in MIHAN eventually backed out, citing policy uncertainty and infrastructure delays. Despite having one of the largest SEZ footprints in India, MIHAN failed to achieve its projected employment or investment figures. In 2021, a Maharashtra government committee noted that progress at MIHAN had stalled due to administrative lethargy, contrasting sharply with the aggressive expansion policies in Pune and Nashik industrial zones.

These seven documented instances present a clear view of how Vidarbha has repeatedly been placed second in line when it comes to state-led development initiatives. Each case points to a pattern of delayed implementation, insufficient funding, or outright exclusion, despite the region’s clear qualifications and urgent needs. The decisions have not only affected economic indicators but have also shaped public sentiment and regional politics in a lasting way.

While conversations around regional parity in Maharashtra have persisted for decades, these examples provide concrete points for policy review and historical understanding. Vidarbha’s consistent underrepresentation in development policy is no longer a matter of perception but of record. As more data and accountability mechanisms come to light, these historical choices will continue to inform debates on equity and representation within the state.