Indore: Centre said the Indore-Khandwa highway project in Madhya Pradesh is nearing completion. Officials said the project will improve road safety and reduce travel time through difficult ghat sections.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that the 33.4-km Tejaji Nagar-Balwara stretch on NH-347BG is being upgraded into a four-lane highway. The project falls under the Indore-Ichhapur Corridor.
Officials said the project cost stands at ₹924.44 crore. They added that construction work has reached 88% completion.
The ministry said the upgraded corridor will improve connectivity between Indore, Khandwa, Omkareshwar, Burhanpur and Jalgaon. It will also ease congestion and improve traffic movement in hilly areas.
Officials stated that travel time between Indore and Omkareshwar will reduce from nearly three hours to around one hour after completion.
The ministry said the project will support freight transport and improve access to religious destinations including Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga.
Indore-Khandwa highway tunnels aim to improve safety
The ministry said engineers are building three tunnels using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. These tunnels will bypass dangerous ghat stretches.
Officials identified the tunnels as the 575-metre Bherughat Tunnel, the 480-metre Baigram Tunnel and the 550-metre Choral Ghat Tunnel.
The ministry said the tunnels will reduce accidents and improve traffic flow during monsoon conditions and peak travel periods.
Officials also included crash barriers, drainage systems, rainwater management facilities and road safety signboards in the project.
Farmer Pradeep Gowli from Simrol said traffic jams and risky turns earlier delayed transportation of agricultural produce to markets.
Driver Ranjit Singh said the present two-lane road created daily safety concerns because accidents occurred frequently on the route.
The ministry added that the upgraded highway will help manage pilgrim traffic during Simhastha 2028 between Ujjain and Omkareshwar.
