BJP’s Big Infrastructure Push In Madhya Pradesh Assured Their Victory

Over the past decade, Madhya Pradesh has undergone a significant transformation in its economic and social landscape, largely due to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s substantial investment in infrastructure.

The state government, led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has consistently emphasised the infrastructure development for its diverse regions to create direct and indirect job opportunities and enhance the economy.

The state has achieved remarkable economic growth, with an impressive average gross state domestic product (GSDP) growth rate exceeding 9 per cent.

This positive trajectory has been sustained through a decade of stable governance and has been elevated by the creation of a robust support infrastructure.

To facilitate this growth, the government allocated substantial investments, exceeding $15.4 billion, over the past five years aiming to drive this progress through innovation.

These initiatives include a range of significant infrastructure projects — the metro systems to improve urban transit, expansive road networks to enhance connectivity with national economic hubs, and the development of industrial infrastructure in the Vindhya region.  

Here’s a list of major infrastructure projects that have taken centre stage in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The Bhopal And Indore Metro

The government, guided by its 2018 vision, has undertaken a mission to upgrade the quality of the life in its capital city Bhopal and the commercial hub of Indore by providing a highly efficient and comfortable state-of-art urban rail system.

Among the cities that make up this dynamic state, these two cities emerge as two of the most significant ones, each playing a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of not only Madhya Pradesh but also contributing significantly to India as a whole.

The maps and tables below give an overview of the overall metro networks that are underway in both the cities.

In September this year, rolling stock major Alstom, achieved a significant milestone by delivering the first trainset for the Bhopal-Indore metro project to the MPMRCL.

Aligning with the 'Make-in-India' campaign, the trainsets are indigenously manufactured at Alstom's advanced rolling stock manufacturing facility in Savli, Gujarat.

As per the most recent progress, successful trials have been conducted along the priority corridors, ensuring that the project remains on schedule to cater to the cities’ populace by its target operations in 2024.

The 244-Km Madhya Pradesh Stretch Of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway

In alignment with the broader trend of expansive expressway projects underway across India, the state has been making rapid progress in its road infrastructure development over the years.

The 244-kilometre-long stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Madhya Pradesh, is now complete, backed by the effective efforts of the state government and central authorities.

The objective is to bridge regional disparities of the state and extend further to financial and commercial centres nationwide.

This road connectivity for the state, will open a direct conduit to New Delhi, the national capital and, Mumbai, the financial capital of the nation.

Moreover, it aims to establish vital connectivity and unlock economic prospects for regions in Madhya Pradesh with Vadodara, Surat in Gujarat, as well as with significant regions in Rajasthan.

The eight-lane stretch within the state starts from Neemthur village at the Rajasthan border and ends at Timarwani village, serving as the gateway to Gujarat.

The road corridor passes through three districts of the state — spanning 50 kilometres in Jhabua, 91 kilometres in Ratlam, and 102 kilometres in Mandsaur.

One-Of-Its-Kind Aqueduct Tunnel Connecting Rewa-Sidhi

The state’s longest tunnel, constructed in a challenging terrain, was completed six months ahead of its four-year schedule, costing approximately Rs 1,004 crore.

Structures where a tunnel passes beneath a canal or a canal passes beneath a tunnel are known as aqueducts.

This development is the country’s very first six-lane twin aquaduct tunnel, establishing a vital link between Rewa and Sidhi.

This impressive engineering feat spanning 2.28 kilometres, along with a 13-kilometre four-lane bypass road, not only symbolises substantial progress but also underscores the continuous commitment of both state and central authorities towards the growth of Madhya Pradesh’s Vindhya region.

Asia’s Largest Ultra Solar Power Park In Rewa

Further in the ambitious series of projects aimed at creating global value, is the Rewa Solar Project, which covers an expansive 1,500 hectares of land in Gurh tehsil of Rewa district, spanning five villages in the Barseta area.

This project began production in 2018 and achieved its full 750 MW capacity in 2020. On 10 July, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated this solar power plant, the largest in Asia, to India.

Given India's transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, the Rewa solar plant is expected to significantly contribute to this mission.

This 750 MW project is among the world's most substantial solar initiatives and has been providing affordable and clean electricity to the Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company (MPPMCL), the state-owned distribution company, and the Delhi Metro Corporation Limited (DMRC).

Recent studies indicate that this solar power plant is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 15 lakh tonnes per year, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability.

The park is the first and only solar initiative in India to receive funding from the 'Clean Technology Fund' at a remarkably low rate of 0.25 per cent over 40 years.

State's First Multi-Modal Logistics Park In Indore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 October laid the foundation stone of the first multi-modal logistic park (MMLP) of Madhya Pradesh.

The MMLP is being developed in Indore over an area of 255.17 acre near Pithampur in Dhar district.

The site is strategically located near Pithampur industrial area, and abutting the Indore Tihi-Dahod rail line, as well as proposed Mhow ring road, at 30 km from Indore Airport and Indore city.

The MMLP will handle 12.79 million metric tonne (MMT) cargo in the horizon period of 45 years and will give huge boost to the industrial zones in the catchment region such as Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Dhar, Pithampur, Khandwa and Barwani.

Series Of Expressways In Pipeline

The government remains steadfast in its commitment to improving accessibility to the promising regions. To realise this vision, a series of expressways are in the pipeline for the state.

The map below provides an overview of the expressway network currently under construction and those in proposal, designed to unite all regions within the state and open them up to new growth opportunities in the years to come.

The pipeline includes — the 404 km Atal Progressway proposed alongside the Chambal River, and will pass through the Chambal valley in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Further, Narmada Expressway spanning 900 km, is set to be developed by National Highways Authority of India.

As part of the Bharatmala Pariyojna, this greenfield expressway will run alongside the Narmada River, and later on extended to either Bharuch or Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

In February this year, state’s Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also announced the construction of Vindhya Expressway to connect the capital city, Bhopal with Singrauli.

This extensive 660 km expressway project will traverse six districts within the state — including Bhopal, Damoh, Katni, Rewa, Sidhi, and Singrauli.

The Vindhya region, traditionally defined as the plateau around the Vindhyachal ranges in central India, is set to benefit significantly from this much-needed development.