NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari giving a new impetus to the progress of Madhya Pradesh through better road connectivity inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 8 National Highway projects worth Rs. 4054 crore and 214 km length in Jabalpur and inaugurated 5 National Highway projects of total length 329 km at a cost of Rs. 1261 crore in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

While addressing the gathering, Gadkari said that 53 km from Hiran river to Singur river and 12 km 4-lane construction of Nauradehi Wild Life Sanctuary will save 2 hours travel time from Jabalpur to Bhopal. The farmers of Narsinghpur, the largest producer of sugarcane and pulses, will be able to take their grains to the mandis of Malwa and Central region. Along with this, 23 underpasses and 5 minor bridges are also being built for the convenience and safety of animals in the Wild Life Sanctuary, he added.

Speaking at Mandla, Gadkari said that the natural beauty of Mandla and Kanha National Park have always attracted tourists. With the construction of these road projects, this area and its forest dwellers will get better facilities. These projects will well connect Mandla with Jabalpur, Dindori, Balaghat districts.

The Minister said with the construction of these routes, religious places like Pachmarhi, Bhedaghat and Amarkantak as well as traffic from Jabalpur via Amarkantak to Bilaspur, Raipur and Durg will be easy. Transportation of agricultural and industrial products from nearby regions and states will be facilitated and this will save time and fuel, he added.