Madhya Pradesh first state todevelop a TIGER CORRIDOR

 

 

 

MADHYAPradesh is known as the ‘Tiger State’ of India in view of highest tiger population in the country. Wildlife conservation has also being taken in to account before launching new project of road construction. Department will develop a ‘tiger corridor’. Madhya Pradesh is the first state to develop such corridor. This corridor will connect five major National Parks of the State. For this, underpasses and cautions traffic zones will be built sur rounding to forest areas since connectivity to wildlife is also important without adversely affecting tiger movement. This will also boost eco-tourism and local economy, informed, Public Works Department Minister Rakesh Singh on Thursday. The corridor will be developed in col laboration with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

 

Elaborating more on road net work Minister Singh said that the way to road development in the country has changed, and this is the era of high-speed corridors. In this context, a high-speed corridor of approximately 700 kilometres is proposed from Varanasi to Nagpur, which will connect central and southern India. The alignment between Bhopal and Indore has also been finalised. The project is estimat ed to cost around Rs 1.05 lakh crore, and efforts are being made to ensure that Madhya Pradesh receives the maximum benefit from it. The Public Works Department of Madhya Pradesh has achieved a remarkable progress in the past two years under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, fulfilling the vision of “Developed India @2047.”

 

Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh highlighted the department’s achievements, ongoing mega projects, and innovative initiatives during a press conference at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre on December 18. Over the period 2024-25, approximately 10,000 kilometres of roads were constructed at a total cost of Rs 17,284 crore, alongside the construction of 739 government buildings worth Rs 6,627 crore, strengthening basic infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. Flagship projects completed include the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Flyover in Bhopal (Rs 153 crore) and the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee six lane Kolar Road (Rs 305 crore), easing traffic and improving connectivity in the rapidly developing capital.

 

In Jabalpur, a 7-kilo metre elevated corridor from Damoh Naka–Ranitall–Madan Mahal Chowk to Medical Road was completed at Rs 1,019 crore, significantly enhancing city traf fic flow. Modern court buildings were constructed in Gwalior and Rewa at Rs 194 crore, while new medical colleges in Neemuch,Mandsaur, and Seoni were completed at Rs 889 crore, expanding healthcare and medical edu cation. Additionally, 136 new school buildings (Rs 2,240 crore) and 177 healthcare centres (Rs 726 crore) were completed, improving access to essential public services. Currently, several large-scale projects are under progress, including a 13-kilometre elevat ed corridor in Gwalior (Rs 1,064 crore), a 2.6-kilometre elevated corridor in Bhopal (Rs 215 crore), a high-level bridge over the Tawa River in Narmadapuram (Rs 89 crore), and a 7.45-kilometre elevated corridor in Indore (Rs 350 crore). The Ujjain–Javra express way (Rs 5,017 crore), Indore–Ujjain 6-lane highway upgrade (Rs 1,692 crore), and the new Indore–Ujjain greenfield expressway (Rs 2,935 crore) are expected to enhance regional connectivity and boost economic activity.

 

 

Additionally, 111 railway over bridges are under construction across the state at a cost of Rs 3,903 crore. The department is implementing projects in co-ordi nation with national and inter national agencies. With sup port from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the New Development Bank (NDB), 1,141 kilometres of roads are under construction at Rs 6,746 crore. On the national level, 55 national highways totalling 989 kilo metres are being developed at Rs 14,918 crore, and an additional Rs 28,000 crore worth of projects have been approved under an MoU with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), strengthening Madhya Pradesh’s nation al connectivity.

 

Under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), the government has partnered with the private sector to develop 345 kilometres of five major road projects costing Rs 12,676 crore. Key HAM projects include the Indore–Ujjain 6 lane highway, the Ujjain–Javra 4-lane greenfield highway, and the Sagar–Damoh 4-lane road, ensuring timely, high-quality infrastructure delivery. Innovation and technology have been central to the department’s success. The “Lokpath Mobile App” connects citizens directly with the department, enabling repair of roads within four days; over 11,000 complaints have been successfully resolved. The “Lok Project Management System,” implemented on September 15, 2025, allows online budgeting, administrative approvals, tendering, measurement books, and project management, improving transparency, efficiency, and monitoring.

 

With the support of Bhaskaracharya Institute (BISAG-N), aerial distance comparisons, road network master planning, and scientific DPRs for Tiger Corridors have been prepared to strengthen long-term road infrastructure. The department has digi tally mapped 68,315 kilometres of 10,778 roads, 2,633 buildings, 1,320 bridges, 503 public welfare ponds, and 314 plantation sites through the Lok Survey Mobile App, enabling precise and trans parent asset management. Environmental sustainability is emphasised through rain water harvesting, water recharge borewells along every kilometre, the construction of 506 public welfare ponds, tree shifting, and the plantation of over 2.5 lakh saplings as of July 1, 2025. Quality control has been reinforced through the Road Asset Management System (RAMS), QR code based confidential sampling, procurement of make-in-India bitumen exclusively from government refineries (IOCL, HPCL, BPCL), modernisation of 14 zonal laboratories with a budget of Rs 7.2 crore, and operation of 14 mobile laboratories.

 

Advanced technologies such as FDR, white top ping, micro-surfacing, automatic patch repair machines, UHPFRC, and GFRP have been integrated into the schedule of rates (SoR) to increase road longevity, durability, and cost efficiency. Tendering process es have been strengthened by enforcing performance guarantees for low-bidding, pre qualification for works above Rs 2 crore, and mandatory machinery and minimum manpower requirements. Engineers are being trained through CRRI, IAHE, IRC, and BISAG-N, with 1,632 engineers assessed for training needs. A National Engineering Research and Training Institute is pro posed in Bhopal.