“Safety of passengers, area villagers and wildlife has been taken care of during construction of four-lane from Mohgaon to Khawasa. Construction of four-lane will not only make traffic safe but will also save time,” said Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari while inspecting four-lane construction work in Kurai Valley on Friday. Addressing a press conference, Nitin Gadkari said that at present traffic of small vehicles has been received from four lane’s two lane. Traffic of heavy vehicles will be allowed from January 10.

 

This will facilitate heavy vehicles going to Nagpur-Jabalpur. Construction of four-lane will be completed by March. This will ensure smooth flow of traffic. In the press conference, Minister Gadkari said that four-lane is attached to Pench Park, so special care has been taken to protect wildlife. For this, 14 wildlife underpasses are being built here which are 3415 meters in length. Apart from this, a major bridge and 10 minor bridges are also being constructed here. The completion of this 28 km four lane between Khawasa to Mohgaon on the Maharashtra border will ensure the safety and movement of wildlife in the 9 km stretch of Pench Tiger Reserve. Along with this, people of villages and towns falling within a radius of 28 km will also get benefit. After completion of work from Mohgaon to Khawasa on National Highway 44 (old NH-7), vehicles will start running from middle of the forest.

 

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has spent around Rs 950 crore to make the 29-km-long four-lane safe and eco-friendly for wildlife. On January 1, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari visited four lane to take stock of ongoing work in Kurai Valley. According to the Union Minister various works are being done at four-lane. Laying of indicator boards in four-lane with incompatibility in dividers and incomplete works are being done. Business activities will be encouraged due to conversion of 128 km National Highway four-lane from Seoni to Nagpur. 145 km highway from Seoni to Jabalpur has become four lane. At the same time, work is going on at Jabalpur-Katni-Rewa four-lane. Vehicles have gained momentum from Lakhandaun-Kareli-Sagar National Highway. All the routes connected to headquarters will be converted into four-lane, business activities will increase in the district and new opportunities of business will be provided to the district dwellers.