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Rau is a suburb of Indore city and a nagar panchayat in Indore district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is a part of the Indore Metropolitan Region.
Key Information
Location
[edit]Rau is situated on NH52 earlier NH3, Mumbai Agra Road (popularly known as A.B. Road) between Mhow & Rajendra Nagar, Indore area of Indore city near Rangwasa village.
Outlook
[edit]The road connecting Pithampur (An industrial area of Indore region) to Indore Central branches out from Rau, towards Pithampur from NH3.
Geography
[edit]Rau is situated at an altitude of about 530 meters above Mean Sea Level. The climate is subtropical, which is typical in this part of country. Summers are hot and dry followed by monsoon months, with approximately 32–35 inches of rainfall followed by mild winters in the months of December and January.
Summer daytime temperature can reach 45 °C with 20–25% humidity. Winter night temperature can fall to 5–6 °C with 20–25% humidity. Annual rainfall is about 32–35 inches (800 mm).
Demographics
[edit]As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Rau had a population of 20,845. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Rau has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 54%. In Rau, 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Connectivity
[edit]Road
[edit]Rau is situated on National Highway 52 (NH52) and has frequent intracity connection with Indore City–Mhow–Pithampur through an extensive network of city buses, both private and run by Atal Indore City Transport Services Limited.
Rail
[edit]Rau railway station is the nearest railway station which serves the area. It is situated on the Akola-Ratlam line. The passenger trains from Dr. Ambedkar Nagar towards Indore and Ratlam have stoppage at the station.[3]
The major railway junction to board express trains is Indore Jn which is about 14 KMs away from the suburb.
Airport
[edit]The nearest airport is Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore.
Administration
[edit]Rau comes under Indore Parliamentary constituency and is a separate seat known by the same name for State Assembly. The current MLA for Rau Constituency is Madhu Verma who defeated the Ex MLA Jitu Patwari.
It comes under jurisdiction of Indore Collector, an IAS officer and Senior Superintendent of Police, an IPS Officer.
There is a separate municipal corporation (Nagar Parishad) and the chairman is Mrs. Pappi Vijay Patidar.
There is also a police station which is situated on A.B. Road.
Education and research
[edit]Rau hosts several higher education institutions, including engineering and management colleges affiliated with AICTE and UGC.[4]
The State Institute of Hotel Management Indore is situated at Rau bypass and approximately 3 km from Rau circle. Indian Institute of Management Indore is situated in Rau. Rau also has many Engineering Colleges and Management Colleges attached to Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore & Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya. Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, dealing with research in Laser & Nuclear science is also in Rau. Indore Professional Studies (IPS) Academy is situated in Rau. Emerald Heights International School, St. Norberts, LG Academy, New oxford public Hr. Sec. School and Prerna Bal Niketan are the major schools situated here. Many engineering colleges are there in and around Rau Area viz. Medi-Caps Group of Institutions, Sanghvi Institute of Management and Science, Indore Institute of Science of Technology, S D Bansal College, IPS academy. These colleges collectively educate more than 10,000 students. Rau also has a Government college situated in Gurukul Pasrisar, Rangwasa Road. The Govt. College Rau was established in 2011 and has B.A. B.Com. and B.Sc. courses. Rau has several units of industries. It is the hub of several trolley and agricultural implements manufacturers. Companies like Shakti pumps and Oriental chemicals also have their roots in Rau.
Specialties
[edit]The famous Umiya Dham temple, Mamaji Ka Dhaba, Mashal Hotel, Hotel Papaya Tree, Nakhrali Dhani, Hardiya Eye hospital, Vikas Namkeen are a few popular locations of Rau. Rau is also famous for the Dusherra Vijayadashami festival celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Ashwin, according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, which corresponds to September or October of the Gregorian calendar. The first nine days are celebrated as Maha Navratri (Devnagari: नवरात्रि, 'nine nights') or Sharada Navratri (the most important Navratri) and culminates on the tenth day as Dusehhra. In Navratri the last two days i.e. Mahaashtami and Mahanavmi are also remarkable because of the traditional Mata ki Sawari in which people use to worship the Goddess Amba - Durga and Chousath Jogini Kalika Maharani with Bairav Baba.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "Census of India Search details". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ^ "Madhya Pradesh: DEMU train between Ratlam-Dr Ambedkar Nagar and Ratlam–Bhilwara to resume from February 20 as Special DEMU train". The Free Press Journal. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ "Educational hub rising in Rau". Free Press Journal. 2023.
Rau is a nagar panchayat and suburban town in Indore district, Madhya Pradesh, India, situated approximately 12 kilometers south of Indore city along major roads including AB Road.[1][2] As part of the Indore Metropolitan Region, it functions as a municipal administrative unit under the district government.[3] The town recorded a population of 36,055 in the 2011 census, with males comprising 51.7% and a sex ratio of 932 females per 1,000 males; its literacy rate stood at 83.59%, exceeding the national average.[4] Rau serves as an assembly constituency within Indore district, reflecting its political significance in state elections.[5] Economically, it benefits from proximity to Indore's commercial hub, with connectivity via the Saraswati River and key transport routes supporting residential and institutional growth.[2] Rau is particularly noted for its role as an educational center, hosting multiple higher education institutions such as Government College Rau and various engineering and management colleges affiliated with universities like Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya.[6] These establishments contribute to its development as a student-centric suburb, attracting youth from across the region and fostering academic and professional training in fields like arts, science, commerce, and technical disciplines.[6] Local culture includes participation in festivals like Navratri, with garba and dandiya events held in community spaces and institutions.[7]
History
Origins and Early Settlement
The Malwa plateau, encompassing the region where Rau is situated approximately 25 km south of Indore, exhibits archaeological evidence of human habitation dating to the Chalcolithic period as part of the Malwa culture (circa 1800–1200 BCE), marked by early agricultural settlements, black-and-red ware pottery, and terracotta artifacts indicative of settled farming communities.[8] These prehistoric activities laid the foundation for subsequent rural development in the area, though no specific excavations have been documented at Rau itself. Rau emerged as a distinct village within the administrative ambit of the Indore princely state, established under the Holkar dynasty following Maratha conquest of Malwa in the early 18th century.[9] The Holkars, granted control over 28 and a half parganas including surrounding villages by Peshwa Baji Rao I in 1732, fostered agrarian economies reliant on cotton, wheat, and opium cultivation across their territories, with local zamindars managing landholdings.[10] As a peripheral settlement, Rau likely functioned as an agricultural hamlet serving the dynasty's revenue systems, with its population tied to hereditary landholders of Malwa origin who predated Maratha rule.[11] Early records of Rau are sparse, reflecting its status as one of many unremarkable villages in the fertile black-soil tracts of the plateau, without notable monuments or urban features until later expansions. Population growth remained modest, supported by the Saraswati and Shipra river tributaries that facilitated irrigation and trade links to Indore.[12]Colonial and Post-Independence Development
During the British colonial period, Rau was a rural settlement within the princely state of Indore, ruled by the Holkar dynasty under British paramountcy established by the Treaty of Mandsaur in 1818. The region, part of the Malwa plateau, primarily supported agriculture and local trade, with no major infrastructure projects or urban development recorded specifically for Rau; administrative control remained with local zamindars and the Indore state apparatus, reflecting the indirect rule typical of princely states.[9] Following Indian independence in 1947, the Indore princely state acceded to the Union of India on 1 January 1948, integrating Rau into the newly formed state of Madhya Bharat; it was reorganized into Madhya Pradesh in 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act. Early post-independence growth was driven by enhanced regional connectivity, including the operationalization of Indore Airport (now Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport) in 1948, located approximately 13 km from Rau, which facilitated air travel and commerce spillover effects. The alignment of National Highway 52 (formerly part of NH3, known as AB Road) through Rau further supported vehicular transport and economic linkages between Mumbai and Agra, promoting migration and trade from the 1950s onward.[13] Subsequent decades saw accelerated development tied to industrial and educational expansions. The establishment of Pithampur as an industrial growth center in the 1980s, approximately 20 km from Rau, generated employment opportunities and stimulated real estate and ancillary services in Rau, transforming it from a predominantly agrarian area to a burgeoning suburb. In 1996, the Indian Institute of Management Indore opened its campus at Prabandh Shikhar on the Rau-Pithampur Road, attracting faculty, students, and investments that bolstered local socio-economic indicators. By the early 21st century, Rau's designation as a nagar panchayat reflected its transition to urban governance amid population growth and infrastructure upgrades, including road widenings and proximity to Indore's metropolitan expansion.[14][15]Recent Urban Expansion
Rau has experienced accelerated urban expansion since the early 2010s, primarily driven by its integration into the broader Indore metropolitan growth corridor and the proliferation of industrial activities in the adjacent Pithampur Special Economic Zone. This development has transformed Rau from a primarily agrarian and small-scale industrial settlement into a peri-urban hub, with increased residential, commercial, and infrastructural investments attracting migrant workers and investors. The area's strategic location along the Rau-Pithampur Road, approximately 20 kilometers south of Indore, has facilitated this shift, supported by improved road connectivity and proximity to major highways.[16] Population estimates for Rau Nagar Panchayat indicate growth from approximately 30,000 residents in the 2011 census to around 50,000 by 2025, reflecting an average annual increase tied to industrial job creation and affordable housing demand. This expansion mirrors broader trends in Madhya Pradesh's urban fringe areas, where industrial clusters like Pithampur—Asia's largest automotive hub—have spurred secondary urbanization, leading to a surge in residential colonies and townships. Real estate data shows over 80 new or under-construction projects in Rau as of 2025, including premium residential plots and gated communities, with plot sizes ranging from 1,000 to 1,250 square feet priced between ₹46 lakh and ₹71 lakh.[4][17][18] Infrastructure enhancements have further catalyzed this growth, including the development of the Rau Bypass, which improves access to Indore's expanding road networks and proposed metro extensions. In August 2025, Highway Infrastructure Limited launched the Neww York City Phase-4 project, a 174,582 square-foot commercial development opposite SAGE University, underscoring Rau's shift toward mixed-use urban spaces. The Rau-Pithampur Extension zone has emerged as an affordable investment area, benefiting from Pithampur's industrial spillover, with recent years seeing tremendous commercial upscaling from traditional manufacturing bases. These projects align with Madhya Pradesh's state-level urban initiatives, such as the 2025 Growth Conclave's emphasis on regional planning for areas exceeding 10 lakh in metropolitan population, though Rau's expansion remains heavily reliant on private real estate momentum rather than large-scale public works.[19][20][21]Geography
Location and Boundaries
Rau is located in Indore district, Madhya Pradesh, India, at geographic coordinates 22.636383° N latitude and 75.810692° E longitude, with an elevation of approximately 530 meters above mean sea level.[22][23] The town is positioned approximately 11.5 kilometers south of Indore city by road, serving as a suburban extension within the broader Indore metropolitan area.[24] Rau lies along National Highway 52 (NH 52), which connects it to major routes including NH 47 nearby, facilitating connectivity to Indore and surrounding regions like Mhow.[25] As a nagar panchayat, it covers an area of about 35.98 square kilometers, bordered by localities such as Bijalpur and Umariya within Indore district.[26] The Saraswati River flows in proximity, influencing local geography.[2] Administratively, Rau falls under Indore tehsil and the Rau subdivision of Indore district, with its boundaries delineating urbanizing zones integrated into the Indore planning area.[27][28] These limits encompass 15 wards managed by the nagar panchayat for local governance and development.[4]Topography and Land Use
Rau occupies a portion of the Malwa Plateau in the Indore district of Madhya Pradesh, featuring predominantly flat to gently undulating terrain characteristic of the Deccan Plateau's basaltic formations. The area's average elevation ranges from 540 to 560 meters above sea level, with minimal topographic variation that facilitates urban and industrial expansion.[29][30] This plateau landscape, formed from ancient volcanic activity, lacks significant hills or valleys within Rau's boundaries, though it borders the Saraswati River to the north, influencing minor drainage patterns.[31] The dominant soil type in Rau is black cotton soil (vertisols), a clay-rich, moisture-retentive medium prevalent across the Malwa region, which historically supported rain-fed agriculture but cracks during dry seasons.[32] Land use has transitioned from primarily agricultural—cultivating crops like cotton, soybeans, and wheat on about 40-50% of peripheral areas in recent decades—to urban-industrial dominance, driven by Rau's integration into the Indore Metropolitan Region. The Rau Industrial Area, spanning several square kilometers, accommodates over 5,000 small and medium enterprises focused on automobiles, textiles, and engineering, occupying roughly 30% of developed land as of 2020.[33] Residential zones have expanded to cover approximately 25% of the nagar panchayat, with commercial plots and educational campuses (including extensions of Indore's universities) filling interstitial spaces; agricultural fallows and pastures persist on fringes but declined by 15-20% between 2010 and 2020 due to conversion pressures.[34] This pattern reflects broader Malwa Plateau urbanization, where built-up areas increased by over 10% annually in peri-urban zones like Rau.[33]Climate and Environmental Features
Rau exhibits a tropical monsoon climate typical of central India, with distinct hot summers, a pronounced rainy season, and mild winters. Summer temperatures from March to June frequently exceed 40°C, peaking at around 45°C, while winter lows from November to February dip to 5–6°C.[23] The average annual temperature hovers near 25°C, influenced by the region's continental location and elevation around 550 meters above sea level.[35] Monsoon rains dominate from June to September, accounting for the bulk of the approximately 800 mm annual precipitation, though variability occurs with some years seeing higher totals closer to 1,000 mm as observed in nearby Indore.[23] [35] Dry winters feature minimal rainfall, often below 10 mm monthly, supporting brief fog and haze periods.[36] Environmental features include predominantly flat alluvial plains used for agriculture and industry, with sparse natural vegetation comprising dry deciduous species like teak and sal in peripheral areas of Indore district. Urban expansion and industrial clusters, including Rau's manufacturing hubs, contribute to air quality degradation, with PM10 levels in the Indore metropolitan area often exceeding national standards, as reported by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board.[37] Deforestation for development has reduced green cover, exacerbating dust and particulate pollution during dry seasons.[38] Water resources rely on local rivers like the Chambal tributary systems and groundwater, though overexploitation poses sustainability risks amid growing industrial demand.[39]Demographics
Population Statistics
As of the 2011 Indian census, Rau, a nagar panchayat in Indore district, Madhya Pradesh, had a total population of 36,055 residents.[4] [40] This figure comprised 18,658 males and 17,397 females, yielding a sex ratio of 931 females per 1,000 males.[4] [41] The town's population exhibited rapid growth in the early 21st century, increasing from 20,845 in the 2001 census to 36,055 in 2011, a decadal growth rate of approximately 72.9%.[28] Earlier data indicate a 1991 population of around 13,162, reflecting sustained expansion driven by proximity to Indore and industrial development. With an area of 14.74 square kilometers, Rau's population density stood at 2,446 persons per square kilometer in 2011.[40] No official census data beyond 2011 is available, as the 2021 national census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; projections for subsequent years remain unofficial and unverified by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. The town's demographic profile aligns with urbanizing areas in central India, where migration from rural Madhya Pradesh contributes to population increases, though specific inflow estimates lack comprehensive tracking.Ethnic and Religious Composition
According to the 2011 Census of India, Hindus form the majority of Rau's population at 84.48%, numbering 30,461 individuals out of a total town population of approximately 36,062.[28][4] Muslims constitute the second-largest group at 13.95%, with 5,031 persons, reflecting a notable minority presence typical of urbanizing areas in Indore district.[28][42] Smaller religious communities, including Christians, account for about 0.41%, while Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, and others make up the remaining share, consistent with Madhya Pradesh's overall religious demographics where Hindus predominate but urban pockets show diversity.[42][43] Ethnically, Rau's residents are predominantly of Indo-Aryan stock, aligned with the Malwa region's Hindi-speaking communities, including various Hindu castes such as Brahmins, Rajputs, and merchant groups drawn to its educational and industrial hubs.[4] Scheduled Castes (SC) represent 12.58% of the population, often from Dalit communities engaged in service and labor sectors, while Scheduled Tribes (ST) comprise 8.11%, including Bhil and Korku groups from surrounding rural areas migrating for opportunities.[4][44] This composition underscores Rau's transition from agrarian roots to a peri-urban center, with social groups reflecting broader Indore district patterns where tribal influences persist amid Hindu-majority assimilation.[28] No significant non-Indo-Aryan ethnic enclaves are reported, though linguistic diversity includes minor Marathi and Gujarati speakers among traders.[4]Socio-Economic Indicators
Rau's socio-economic indicators, based on the 2011 Census of India, demonstrate levels that exceed Madhya Pradesh state averages, reflecting its status as an urbanizing suburb with industrial activity linked to the Indore agglomeration. Literacy serves as a primary measure of human capital development, with Rau recording an overall rate of 83.59%, compared to the state's 69.32%. This gap underscores localized advantages in access to education, driven by proximity to Indore's institutions and employment opportunities that incentivize skill acquisition.[4] Gender-disaggregated literacy reveals a male rate of 89.09% and a female rate of 77.73%, indicating progress toward parity but persistent disparities attributable to cultural and economic factors common in semi-urban Indian contexts. The sex ratio stands at 931 females per 1,000 males, aligning closely with the state figure of 931 and suggesting demographic stability without acute imbalances. These metrics position Rau above rural Madhya Pradesh benchmarks, where female literacy often lags further due to agricultural labor demands and limited schooling infrastructure.[4] Workforce participation data from the census highlights Rau's economic orientation, though town-specific breakdowns emphasize main workers in manufacturing and services over agriculture, contrasting with the state's agrarian base where over 60% of workers are cultivators or laborers. Indore district-wide, marginal workers constitute a smaller share relative to non-workers, implying seasonal underemployment is less pronounced in urban nodes like Rau. No recent sub-district poverty estimates exist, but the area's integration into Indore's commercial ecosystem correlates with lower deprivation indices than state medians, per broader district assessments.Administration and Politics
Local Governance Structure
Rau is administered by the Nagar Parishad Rau, an urban local body classified as a transitional municipality under the Madhya Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1961, responsible for managing civic services in areas shifting from rural to urban character.[45] The governing structure comprises an elected legislative body and an executive administration. The legislative wing includes a president, elected directly by residents from the municipal area, and a variable number of councilors elected from designated wards, typically 10-20 for entities of this scale in Madhya Pradesh; additional members with specialized expertise may be nominated by the state government.[45] [46] Executive operations are led by the Chief Municipal Officer (CMO), a state-appointed official who oversees daily functions, policy implementation, and coordination with higher authorities. As of January 2024, Chandrashekhar Nigam served as CMO, directing efforts such as property tax recovery, which yielded approximately ₹2 crore from defaulters to fund local infrastructure.[47] The Nagar Parishad handles core responsibilities including water supply and sewerage management across its jurisdiction covering over 7,500 households, road construction and maintenance, street lighting, solid waste disposal, and public health initiatives.[4] At a broader administrative level, Rau operates within the Indore district framework, with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rau providing oversight for revenue collection, law enforcement coordination, and developmental schemes integration with state programs. The SDM role, held by officials such as those listed in district directories as of October 2025, ensures alignment between local civic functions and district priorities like urban planning and disaster response.[48] The body reports to the Directorate of Urban Administration and Development, Madhya Pradesh, which standardizes operations across 264 Nagar Panchayats in the state.[49] Funding derives from property taxes, grants, and user fees, enabling self-sustained local governance while adhering to the 74th Constitutional Amendment's decentralization mandates.[46]Electoral History and Representation
Rau Assembly constituency, designated as number 210, is one of eight Vidhan Sabha segments within Indore district and falls under the Indore Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh.[5] It encompasses urban and peri-urban areas around Rau town, with a voter base exceeding 300,000 as of recent elections, reflecting growth in the Indore metropolitan region.[50] The seat has alternated between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC), with BJP holding a historical edge in the broader Indore area due to strong urban support.[51] The constituency's electoral history shows competitive contests, particularly since 2008. In the 2008 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, BJP's Jeetu Jeerati secured victory with 49,621 votes, capturing 49.4% of the valid votes polled.[52] INC's Jitu Patwari won the seat in both the 2013 and 2018 elections, defeating BJP opponents with margins of 18,559 votes in 2013 (91,885 votes for Patwari at 54.10% turnout of 72.7%) and a narrower lead in 2018 amid 289,396 electors and 215,687 valid votes.[53][54] BJP reclaimed the seat in the 2023 election, with Madhu Verma defeating incumbent Patwari by 35,522 votes, polling 151,672 votes for BJP.[55][56]| Year | Winner | Party | Votes Obtained | Margin of Victory | Voter Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Jeetu Jeerati | BJP | 49,621 (49.4%) | Not specified in available data | Not specified in available data[52] |
| 2013 | Jitu Patwari | INC | 91,885 (54.10%) | 18,559 | 72.7%[53] |
| 2018 | Jitu Patwari | INC | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified (215,687 valid votes from 289,396 electors)[54] |
| 2023 | Madhu Verma | BJP | 151,672 | 35,522 | Not specified in available data[55][56] |
