Bhopal/Pithampur, August 20, 2026

 Madhya Pradesh's largest industrial hub added two new-age manufacturing units to its factory floor on Thursday. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav inaugurated Corsis Industries and Walters Technology at Pithampur's Smart Industrial Park, involving a combined investment of about Rs 850 crore and expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs.

The two Pratap Group units bring together two technologies increasingly important to India's future infrastructure. One will manufacture optical fibre used in 5G networks, broadband and data centres. The other will produce battery storage systems needed for renewable energy and industrial applications.

Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was present at the inauguration.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav placed employment at the centre of the state's industrial push. He said Madhya Pradesh was moving rapidly to attract new industries while ensuring that investment also creates jobs and technical training opportunities for local youth.

The optical fibre plant has been established by Corsis Industries over about 8,067 square metres. It has an annual production capacity of 5.5 million fibre kilometres and has generated around 300 direct and indirect employment opportunities. The fibre produced here will find applications in broadband connectivity, 5G networks, Fibre-to-the-Home, data centres, smart cities, defence and strategic communication infrastructure.

The second unit, established by Walters Technologies, takes Pithampur into another fast-growing field-energy storage. Spread over about 20,505 square metres, the plant has a production capacity of 3 GWh and is expected to generate around 250 direct and indirect jobs. Industry 4.0-based automation and robotic assembly lines have been incorporated into the facility.

Its battery storage systems will support renewable-energy integration and commercial and industrial applications. As solar and other renewable sources expand, storage becomes important because electricity generated at one time may have to be supplied when demand rises later.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said industries connected with optical fibre and lithium battery technology reflect future requirements. The units, established with German technological collaboration, would also expose young workers to modern manufacturing skills and international production systems. He said training arrangements have been made at the industrial units. The government wants investment and employment to grow together so that industrial expansion directly contributes to the state's economy.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the state's incentives for employment-generating industries. Madhya Pradesh provides assistance of up to Rs 5,000 per worker to eligible industrial units, besides focusing on power, water, roads and other supporting infrastructure.

Pithampur gives that industrial policy an established base. Located near Indore and connected with major transport networks, the industrial town already hosts automobile, engineering, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries. The latest investment adds digital infrastructure and clean-energy manufacturing to that mix.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the two plants reflect the changing character of Indian manufacturing. He said battery storage would support India's growing green-energy requirements, while optical fibre manufacturing would strengthen digital and communication infrastructure.

Shekhawat also linked Pithampur's growth with Madhya Pradesh's wider advantages, including power, water, raw material, roads and logistics. The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and expanding expressway connectivity, he said, provide further opportunities for industries in the state.

Pratap Group chairman Devendra Singh Shekhawat said the group's different ventures currently provide direct and indirect employment to around 30,000 people. More than 2,000 young people are undergoing training at its skill-development centres, with plans aimed at providing employment to around 5,000 more.

The inauguration also comes as Madhya Pradesh attempts to convert investment commitments into factories and jobs on the ground. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said this was the second time within a month that new industrial units had come to Pithampur.

The two plants are now set to add another layer to Pithampur's manufacturing profile. Optical fibre connects India's expanding digital economy, while battery storage supports its clean-energy transition.