Giving a new impetus to the progress of Madhya Pradesh through better road connectivity, eight National Highway projects, with a total length of 214 km length was inaugurated on Monday (7 November) in Jabalpur.
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, jointly laid the foundation stone of road projects worth Rs 4,054 crore.
The projects include 4-laning of 53 km stretch on NH-45 from Hiran River to Singur river and 12 km stretch of Nauradehi Wild Life Sanctuary, which will save two hours travel time from Jabalpur to Bhopal.
Along with this, 23 underpasses and 5 minor bridges are also being built for the convenience and safety of animals in the Wild Life Sanctuary.
Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The sanctuary spans across three districts – Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur – of Madhya Pradesh.
It acts as a corridor for Panna Tiger Reserve and Satpura Tiger Reserve while indirectly connecting Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve via Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuary. With the improved connectivity, there would be a boost in wildlife tourism over the years.
Another project involves construction of a two-pane paved shoulder and bypass between Jabalpur and Kundam Khanda on NH 45. This project will improve the connectivity between Madhya Pradesh and the mineral rich neighbour, Chhattisgarh.
Jabalpur Ring Road
On this occasion, the foundation stone of 112 km, 4-lane Jabalpur Ring Road was laid at a cost of Rs 3,600 crore under Bharatmala project.
Jabalpur is the third-largest urban agglomeration in Madhya Pradesh and is the confluence zone of six National Highways.
The heavy vehicles from these six highways caused long traffic snarls in the city which necessitated the construction of a ring road.
This ring road will be built on Barela – Malegaon – Shahpura Bhatauni – Kushner – Amjhar – Barela road.
It will have eight major bridges, seven flyovers, 38 minor bridges, one vehicular over-pass, 30 vehicular under-pass and rail overbridge (ROB) at Bhedaghat and Deori.
The ring road will also include an extra-dosed bridge on Narmada River at Bhedaghat, with a ropeway and tourist resort.
Bhedaghat is a town situated by the side of the Narmada River with an approximate distance of 20 km from Jabalpur. Bhedaghat is famous for high marble rocks which cut their way through the Narmada River thereby making a valley.