Kamal Nath stresses on improved road connectivity in DMIC project

New Delhi, Dec 12 (UNI) Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath has called for improving the road connectivity of the four hubs / proposed to be developed in the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Project.

Mr Nath in a communication to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on December 10, has requested for initiating the following action for improving the road connectivity of the four industrial regions (Pithampur-Dhar-Mhow; Neemuch-Nayagaon; Shajapur-Dewas and Ratlan-Nagda) under the DMIC Project: The communication said that the State Highway (SH-31) between Nagda (on National Highway-79) and Gujri (on National Highway-3) be four laned for providing the Pithampur-Dhar-Mhow Mega Industrial Region better connectivity with NH-79 and NH-59.

The widening and strengthening of the Dewas-Ujjain-Badnawar stretch of State Highway (SH-18) to improve the connectivity of the Shajapur-Dewas Industrial Region to ensure improved linkage between National Highway-3 and National Highway-79, passing through Ratlam.

It should also strengthen the State Highway-41 between Srangapur-Akodia-Shujalpur-Ashta-Kannod for improving the road connectivity between National Highway-86 and National Highway-59A for serving both the Shajapur-Dewas Industrial Region as well as the Indore-Pithampur-Mhow belt.

The communication suggested the convertion of the Jhabua-Thandla Road-Ratlam Road into a four laned State Highway to help the growth of the Ratlam-Nagda Mega Industrial Region.

It said that in order to facilitate the growth of the Ratlam-Nagda region, Ratlam-Sailana road link should be improved and added that the Jaora-Sailana-Banswara (Rajasthan) road be converted into a two/four lane State Highway.

Besides the above six road links, the Minister has suggested for improving the connectivity of Indore with Mumbai, the financial capital of the country.

I suggest that between Indore and Nashik, the road link be similarly converted into an expressway with the Madhya Pradesh Government taking the responsibility of developing it between Indore and Shirpur on the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border and for the remaining portion upto Nashik being so developed, he said in the letter.

Regarding National Highways, Mr Nath has written to the Minister for Shipping, Transport and Highways, T R Baalu, explaining that the government has already accorded its in-principle approval to the development of the DMIC project, which passes through six states including Madhya Pradesh.

Mr Nath has urged Mr Baalu to improve the transport connectivity in the above four industrial regions of Madhya Pradesh by four laning the Dewas-Sehore-Bhopal stretch of NH 86 extension and the road connecting Jaora on NH 79 with Maksi and passing through Mehidpur on SH 27 and Tararia being converted into an extension of the NH network.

UNI