Nitin Gadkari lays foundation stones of 45 highway projects in Madhya Pradesh

NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 45 highway projects for the State of Madhya Pradesh through video conference.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan presided over the virtual function, attended by Union Ministers Thavarchand Gehlot and  Narendra Singh Tomar, MoSs Prahlad Singh Patel, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Gen (Dr) V K Singh (Retd), Ministers from the State, several MPs, MLAs and senior officers from the Centre and the State.

These projects for inauguration and foundation laying carry a Road length of 1361 kilometers, involving construction value of Rs 11427 crore. Paving the way for development of MP, these roads will enhance better connectivity, convenience and economic growth in and around the State.

Movement of people and goods to and from the State of Madhya Pradesh will also improve substantially especially with the neighbouring States of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh etc. The better roads lead to savings in time and fuel and as well lower emission of pollutants. Further these project will decongest roads and the enroute towns contributing to improved road experience.

(1) आज मध्य प्रदेश के इतिहास में प्रगति और विकास का एक स्वर्णिम क्षण है। राज्य में सड़क नेटवर्क को मजबूती देने के लिए 45 सड़क परियोजनाओं का मध्य प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री श्री @ChouhanShivraj जी, परिवहन राज्यमंत्री जी, @Gen_VKSingh pic.twitter.com/tTHl6UTzaf

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) August 25, 2020

Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said, the NH length in the State is 13,248 kms today, which was barely 5,186 kms in the year 2014. He said, Rs 1,25,000 crore worth of development works are underway in Madhya Pradesh. As much as 60 to 70 per cent works have been completed on approx. Rs 30,000 crore worth road works in the State. He said, several of these roads are important for providing connectivity to the tourist spots and backward areas of the State. The Minister announced that by the year 2023, development works worth Rs 50,000 crore are targeted for completion.

(2) …सामाजिक न्याय और अधिकारिता मंत्री श्री @TCGEHLOT जी, ग्रामीण विकास मंत्री श्री @nstomar जी, पर्यटन और संस्कृति राज्य मंत्री श्री Prahlad Singh Patel जी, इस्पात राज्यमंत्री श्री @fskulaste जी और अन्य गणमान्यों की उपस्थिति में… pic.twitter.com/dInnvGNLAd

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) August 25, 2020

The Minister further informed that work has already started on the 1260 km eight lane access controlled Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, of which 244 km 8-lane length will be constructed in Madhya Pradesh at a cost of Rs 8,214 crore. He said, the work has already been awarded for the MP section of this Expressway, which will pass through Ramganj Mandi, Garoth, Jawra and Ratlam areas of Malwa region, and Thandla (Jhabua). He said, a 173 km long 4-lane road will be made to provide connectivity to the Malwa region from the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. This will pass through Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Agar to Garoth, and the works will be awarded by December this year.

(3) …विडियो कॉन्फ्रेंसिंग के माध्यम से शिलान्यास एवं लोकार्पण किया। साथ ही नये परियोजनाओं की घोषणा कर सभी से साझा किया। #PragatiKaHighway pic.twitter.com/GJpqS54jOf

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) August 25, 2020

Gadkari asked the CM to quickly grant State Government permission for mining, as it has direct bearing on the speed of Expressway construction. He also requested the CM to urgently distribute the land acquisition money to farmers, which the NHAI has already sent to the State government. *Shri Gadkari also asked for expediting forest clearance which requested CM to review himself as unduly holding up clearance delays projects and the same is not in public interest.

(4) 11,427 करोड़ कुल लागत और 1361 कि.मी. कुल लंबाई की यह सड़क परियोजनाएं मध्य प्रदेश के पर्यटन और पिछड़े क्षेत्र के विकास में महत्वपूर्ण योगदान करेगी। इन सड़क परियोजनाओं के पूर्ण होते ही मध्य प्रदेश में सड़क नेटवर्क मजबूत होगा। #PragatiKaHighway pic.twitter.com/sdizqhbNt9

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) August 25, 2020

The Minister highlighted the role of MSME sector in improving the employment and economic scenario in Madhya Pradesh. Informing about the recent expansion in the definition of MSME units, he exhorted the CM to utilise the opportunity and explore export potential of handicrafts, handloom, etc which can provide employment to large number of people. *This he said will also help in the progress of Madhya Pradesh.*

Gadkari also announced Rs 700 crore from Central Road Fund(CRF) for Madhya Pradesh to be utilised in the road sector. Inviting He proposals from the State, he said Rs 350 crore worth of proposals may include the proposals from MPs of Madhya Pradesh for road works in their constituency.

(5) आर्थिक एवं सामाजिक विकास में तेजी आएगी और राज्य संपन्न एवं समृद्ध होगा। प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी और मुख्यमंत्री श्री शिवराज सिंह चौहान जी के नेतृत्व में हम मध्य प्रदेश के विकास के लिए कटिबद्ध है। #PragatiKaHighway pic.twitter.com/hXScmNPM2E

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) August 25, 2020

Chief Minister Chauhan complemented the Union Minister for his vision and willingness to undertake important Road projects in the State. He said, these roads are blessings for MP as they not only save time and money, but also protect life with reduced accidents. Assuring full cooperation from State machinery, he requested the Union Minister to take up three ambitious Road projects of Madhya Pradesh – Narmada Expressway, Chambal Expressway (also called Atal Progressway), and the Ram Vangaman Path. He said, he will very soon submit detailed reports on these projects to the Centre.

Union Ministers Thavarchand Gehlot, Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste along with other dignitaries also applauded the work and initiatives taken for various highways projects in MP.

The details of projects which were inaugurated and of those foundation stones of which were laid today are as below :