The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an upgrade of 233.653 km of National Highway 347B in Madhya Pradesh at a cost of Rs 4,415.60 crore.
The project involves two main components: upgradation of the existing intermediate lane to a 2-lane road with paved shoulders over 125.01 km from Hiwarkhedi to Rudhy, and widening of the existing 2-lane road to 4 lanes over 108.643 km from Deshgaon to Julwaniya. The works will be carried out under the Hybrid Annuity Mode.
The upgrade will address severe geometric deficiencies, sharp curves, and congestion in built-up areas across Betul, Khandwa, Khargone, and Barwani districts. As part of the project, a 16.20 km greenfield bypass will be constructed in Khargone district.
According to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the project will increase average travel speeds, reduce travel time, improve road safety, enhance fuel efficiency and vehicle operating costs, and thereby foster regional mobility and socio-economic development.
The upgraded corridor will connect key economic, social, and logistics nodes across Madhya Pradesh, improving multi-modal integration. It will link six PM Gati-Shakti Economic Nodes (including one Textile Cluster, two Mega Food Parks, one Industrial Park, and two Super Thermal Power Plants), five social nodes (two Aspirational Districts: Khandwa and Barwani; and three Tribal Districts: Betul, Khandwa, Khargone), and five logistic nodes (two major railway stations, two airports, and one Multi-Modal Logistic Park).
This strategic highway will connect major cities and towns such as Betul, Khandwa, Khargone, and Barwani, and intersect with National Highways NH-47, NH-753, NH-347BG, and NH-52, as well as State Highway SH-15. It will provide enhanced access to Indore and Nagpur airports and the Betul and Khandwa railway stations.
The total capital cost includes Rs 2,705.08 crore for civil construction and Rs 432.77 crore for land acquisition. Bypass lengths have been incorporated to ensure smooth traffic flow, covering 70.39 km for the Hiwarkhedi section and 54.273 km for the Deshgaon-Julwaniya section.
The project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, with an estimated 19.50 lakh person-days of direct labour and 23.00 lakh person-days of indirect employment, providing a substantial socio-economic benefit to the region.