In a major push for infrastructure and regional connectivity, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the development of a four-lane corridor on the Badnawar-Petlawad-Thandla-Timarwani section of NH-752D.
The project, spanning 80.45 kilometers, will be developed at a total capital cost of ₹3,839.42 crore. Once completed, it will provide a direct high-speed link between the holy city of Ujjain and the Timarwani interchange on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (DME).
Faster Travel and Improved Safety
The primary objective of the upgrade is to transform the current intermediate lane (5.5m), which is plagued by poor geometry and low speeds (20–50 kmph), into a high-standard four-lane highway designed for speeds of 80–100 kmph.
Travel Time: The project is expected to reduce travel time between Ujjain and the DME by approximately one hour.
Completing the Link: With the Ujjain-Badnawar section (70.40 km) already upgraded, this new stretch completes the seamless four-lane connectivity for the entire corridor.
Strategic Regional Impact
The corridor serves as the shortest route for traffic traveling from Gujarat and Maharashtra to Ujjain. Beyond daily transit, the upgrade is strategically timed to handle the massive surge in traffic expected during the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in April 2028.
The highway traverses the tribal regions of Dhar and Jhabua districts in Madhya Pradesh. By improving access to these areas—some of which are covered under NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Blocks Programme—the project aims to:
Lower Logistics Costs: Facilitate the efficient movement of raw materials and finished goods.
Support Industrial Hubs: Strengthen linkages to major Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) and industrial centers in Indore, Pithampur, Ujjain, and Dewas.
Tribal Development: Enhance basic infrastructure and stimulate economic growth in historically underserved regions.
Project Execution
The development will be carried out under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). The project timeline includes a two-year construction period followed by a 15-year operation and maintenance phase, totaling a 17-year concession period.
This approval is part of a wider infrastructure package cleared by the Cabinet today, which also includes significant railway expansion projects in West Bengal and Jharkhand, totaling nearly ₹12,000 crore in combined investments.
Source: ANI
