In Madhya Pradesh upgrading and widening key stretches of National Highway 347B have been apporved by The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project covers 233.653 kilometres and will be built under the Hybrid Annuity Model at an estimated cost of ₹4,415.60 crore.
The approved work includes upgrading the 125.01-km Hiwarkhedi-Roshni-Ashapur-Rudhy section from an intermediate lane to a two-lane highway with paved shoulders, and widening the 108.643-km Deshgaon-Julwaniya section from two lanes to four.
Better Connectivity, Safer Roads
The NH-347B corridor runs through Betul, Khandwa, Khargone and Barwani districts, where drivers currently deal with sharp curves, geometric issues and congestion through several built-up areas across Madhya Pradesh.
A 16.2-km greenfield bypass around Khargone will also be built to ease traffic and speed up travel. Once complete, the upgraded highway should push average travel speeds higher, cut travel time, improve safety and bring down fuel use and vehicle operating costs, all while supporting mobility and economic growth in the region across Madhya Pradesh.
Fitting the PM GatiShakti Plan
The project was planned in line with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and is meant to strengthen ties between major economic, social and logistics hubs across Madhya Pradesh.
The upgraded corridor will connect six PM GatiShakti economic nodes, including a textile cluster, two mega food parks, an industrial park and two super thermal power plants. It will also link five social nodes: two aspirational districts, Khandwa and Barwani, and three tribal districts, Betul, Khandwa and Khargone. On the logistics side, it connects five nodes, including two major railway stations, two airports and a Multi Modal Logistics Park.
The highway will further improve multimodal connectivity by linking NH-47, NH-753, NH-347BG, NH-52, State Highway 15 and other major district roads across Madhya Pradesh.
Pertinent Numbers
The total project length comes to 233.653 km, at a cost of ₹4,415.60 crore, delivered under the Hybrid Annuity Model. Of that, civil construction accounts for ₹2,705.08 crore, and land acquisition for ₹432.77 crore.
Bypass construction makes up a large share of the work. The Hiwarkhedi-Roshni-Ashapur-Rudhy section alone will get 70.39 km of bypasses, while the Deshgaon-Julwaniya section will add 54.273 km, both aimed at cutting congestion through town centres in Madhya Pradesh.
Key Takeaway: The upgraded corridor should make it easier to reach major towns and cities including Betul, Khandwa, Khargone and Barwani. It will also strengthen links to the Indore and Nagpur airports, the Betul and Khandwa railway stations, and the Multi Modal Logistics Park at Indore.
Construction is expected to create substantial employment, with an estimated 19.5 lakh direct person-days and 23 lakh indirect person-days of work.
The government expects the upgrade to improve freight movement, support industrial growth and strengthen connectivity across central India, adding to the broader push for long-term regional development.
MCQ:
1. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the upgradation of which National Highway in Madhya Pradesh?
A. NH-44
B. NH-347B
C. NH-52
D. NH-47
2. The total length of the NH-347B upgradation project is:
A. 198.653 km
B. 223.653 km
C. 233.653 km
D. 243.653 km
Read more: Transforming Telangana: Cabinet Approves Massive ₹7,597 Crore Highway Widening
