The MP Cabinet has cleared a Rs 1,757.55 crore project to widen the Bhopal-Vidisha road from two lanes to four, with paved shoulders.

This move is part of a bigger push to develop Bhopal into a full fledged metropolitan region.

The approval came at a Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, and forms part of a wider set of development proposals worth around Rs 47,990 crore cleared during the same session.

The stretch in question runs 44.83 km. The paved shoulders are meant to make the road safer for pedestrians and slower vehicles, a common problem on Indian highways.

The road starts at the Bhanpur T junction on the Ayodhya Bypass and ends at the Sanchi Salamatpur junction on NH 146, passing through several smaller towns along the way, including Bhanpur, Sukhi Sevania, Dob, Chopda Kalan, Balampur, Salamatpur and Diwanganj.

Beyond just easing travel between Bhopal and Vidisha, the route also connects to Sanchi Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws pilgrims and tourists year round.

The project will be built under the Hybrid Annuity Model, a funding structure where the government and a developer share costs.

The Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation will cover 40% of the construction cost, GST included, using money from the State Highway Fund.

The state budget will pick up the remaining 60% through half yearly payments spread across the 15 year operation period.

On top of that, the state has set aside another Rs 365.41 crore for land acquisition and other pre construction work.

In a related move, the Cabinet also approved extending toll collection on the 51.963 km Bhopal Bypass through the end of 2031.

That road is set to be widened from four to six lanes, and authorities have the option to stretch the toll period by another five years if needed.

Money collected from the bypass tolls goes back into the State Highway Fund to pay for upkeep of roads across MP.

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