In what could prove to a key poll year gift for Madhya Pradesh, the work on the “Atal Progressway” is likely to begin soon.
The NHAI over the last fortnight invited bids for building the ‘Atal Progressway’ in a major stretch of Madhya Pradesh. The Atal Progressway network starting from Kota to Etawah will provides seamless travel between Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Alignment
The 408.77-km-long ‘Atal Progressway’ is a four-lane access-controlled expressway connecting Kota in Rajasthan to Etawah in Uttar Pradesh via Sheopur, Morena and Bhind districts in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
The proposed project starts from NH-27 in Seemalya Village in Kota district, Rajasthan and ends at Ninawa village in Etawah district in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The lion’s share of the greenfield expressway, at nearly 300 km, will pass through Madhya Pradesh.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has until now invited bids for 219 Km length of expressway in Madhya Pradesh. These include 60.9 km in Sheopur district (Package III), 50.6 Km in Sheopur and Morena districts (Package IV), 59 Km in Morena district (Package V), and 47.95 Km in Morena district (Package VI).
The tenders for the remaining length of the expressway are under progress and expected to be released in next few months.
Chambal Expressway
The expressway is also called “Chambal expressway” as it passes through Chambal Valley. The Chambal valley lies at the intersection of three states, namely, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
With the Chambal river creating the natural boundary, it covers a fairly large area of more than 12000 sq. km in the districts of Etawah in UP; Kota, Sawai Madhopur and Dholpur districts of Rajasthan and Bhind, Morena and Sheopur districts of Madhya Pradesh.
The Chambal valley with peculiar topography added with ravines, semi-arid land has lagged in development, and had a dark history of legendary brigands and utter lawlessness.
The project which is expected to be completed in two years once the work starts will immensely benefit the people of the region.
It will enhance economic development in the area through industrial areas, tourism commercial development and consequent employment.