CABINET on Tuesday sanctioned Rs 1,757.55 crore to widen the Bhopal-Vidisha road from two lanes to a four-lane highway with paved shoulders. The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, approved total proposals worth Rs 47,990 crore focused on infrastructure, health, rural livelihoods, agriculture, and women’s welfare. Upgrading the strategic Bhopal-Vidisha highway The 44.83-km Bhopal-Vidisha stretch (SH-28) will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). It starts from the Bhanpur T-junction on Ayodhya Bypass and connects to National Highway-146 at the SanchiSalamatpur junction, linking key localities including Choprakala, Sukhi Sewaniya, Dob, Balampur, and Diwanganj. The route holds immense cultural and geographic significance as it passes near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sanchi Stupa and crosses the Tropic of Cancer at kilometre 24.55. Under the financing model, the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) will cover 40% of the construction cost via the State Highway Fund, while the remaining 60% will be paid as semi-annual annuities over 15 years through the state budget. An additional Rs 364.41 crore has been earmarked for pre-construction activities such as land acquisition and supervision. Toll extension on Bhopal bypass for 6-lane expansion from July 19,2026,to December 31, 2031 To prepare for upgrading the 51.96-km Bhopal Bypass into a six-lane corridor, the Cabinet extended user toll fee collection from July 19, 2026, to December 31, 2031, with authorisation for the Public Works Department to extend it by another five years if needed. The toll revenue will go to the State Highway Fund to maintain and develop state roads that connect Bhopal with Indore, Raisen, Vidisha, and Narmadapuram. Massive boost for public health & healthcare The Cabinet cleared Rs 44,515.13 crore to support critical public health services from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031.

 

This includes: Rs 28,083.47 crore for the National Health Mission (NHM) to run maternal and child healthcare, immunisation, TB elimination, sickle cell treatment, and free medicines. Rs 12,123.81 crore for the Ayushman Bharat scheme to deliver cashless treatment for underprivileged families. Rs 1,159.58 crore for hospital security and sanitation, along with Rs 654.84 crore for districtlevel health administrative teams. Green dividends for forest workers and local residents Under the Joint Forest Management Committees scheme, Rs 918 crore was approved to operate through 2030-31. For the first time, profits from timber and bamboo harvesting will be shared not only with forest labourers but also with local residents in surrounding areas to encourage community participation in forest conservation. Land for National Soybean Research Institute in Sehore Marking the State’s ‘Kisan Varsh’ (Farmers’ Year), the Cabinet allotted 20 hectares of permanent leasehold land at Bhaukhedi village in Sehore district to establish a Krishi Vigyan Kendra under the ICAR-National Soybean Research Institute, aimed at advancing soybean research for regional farmers. Higher cash awards for women & other key decisions Women Empowerment Awards: Cash prizes for the statelevel Rani Durgawati Award (for exemplary social service under hardship) and the Rani Avanti Bai Bravery Award were fixed at Rs 2 lakh each. Agricultural Education: Approved Rs 795.59 crore as block grants over the next five years for Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University to cover operational expenses and salaries. Dewas Factory Probe: Formally endorsed a threemonth tenure extension (up to August 14, 2026) for the singlemember judicial inquiry commission headed by retired Justice Subhash Kakade into the Tokankala firecracker factory fire incident. State Assets & MPPSC Reports: Sanctioned Rs 2.50 crore for maintaining 54 mineral department buildings and approved tabling the MPPSC’s 63rd, 64th, and 68th annual reports before the State Assembly