Now no distance is a long distance in M.P.

For over a decade the roads of Madhya Pradesh had been a butt of jokes. Travelers would coin jokes and offer derisive comments about the roads in the state. While enjoying a smooth road journey just as the travelers from other states got an abrupt jerk or bump they would invariably comment “ Seems we have entered Madhya Pradesh”. Another joke was prevalent that “ In Madhya Pradesh one has to look for roads in potholes and not the other way round.” The situation came to such a sorry pass due to utter neglect of this vital sector of infrastructure development, making any distance a long distance for the travelers over the years. But this is no longer the case, thanks to the committed efforts made by the present state government to catch up on.

Things have improved considerably. For example it took a long eight- hour bumpy and torturous drive to cover merely one hundred km from Hoshangabad to Harda. Now one can reach there in two hours. Similarly, the drive from Hoshangabad to Seoni Malwa has been reduced by half from 90 minutes to 45 minutes. The case of Bhopal-Sagar road is a classic example. The travelers called it a son-of-a-bitch road and seemed to have vowed not to even utter its name. Now barring a very small pitch this road offers a comfortable drive. The same is the case with many other roads.

The length of roads of all categories put together is about 72 thousand km in Madhya Pradesh. The condition of most of these roads was pitiable at the time the present government took office. In fact, construction of roads was a major plank in the Assembly elections. Acting upto its promise the government spared nothing to change the scenario in this sector. It is borne out by the fact that it spent Rs. 2100 crore on construction of roads in last one year. This is four times the annual budget allocation of the previous government, which was merely Rs. 500 crore. Work of improvement and upgradation of over 12050 km roads has been taken up in last one and half years. These include 1400 km National Highways, 2300 km State Highways, 3650 km important district roads and 4700 km rural roads. Over three-fourth of the work has already been completed.

The state government has encouraged private sector participation in road sector. Under B.O.T. 1000 km roads have already been constructed and work on 1100 km is in progress. This year has been declared as the Year of Roads during which on average work of at least one important road would be completed every month. The State Road Development Corporation set up by the state government is doing a commendable work for construction of roads with the cooperation of private sector. It has been accorded the status of a State Highway Authority. The corporation intends to construct 3000 km roads in next three years. Besides, construction of 2000 km roads is in progress with the assistance from the NABARD and the central government.

The performance of Madhya Pradesh in rural road construction has been lauded by the central government. So far, 10600 villages having upto one thousand population have already been connected to all weather roads and now only 3400 villages remain to be covered. The Union Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development Shri M. Shankar during his recent visit to Madhya Pradesh was all praise for quality and speed of rural road construction works in the state. The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has also praised the rural road construction work in Madhya Pradesh and has assured every possible assistance for this. In the years to come about 24 thousand km rural roads will be constructed giving a boost to rural development. The state would soon be receiving

Rs. 650 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which would facilitate commencement of construction of about three thousand km roads in 1143 villages. At present this work is stalled due to non-receipt of the funds. Under the scheme so far seven thousand km roads have been constructed benefiting the people of 2500 villages.

The inter-state vehicular traffic criss-cross through Madhya Pradesh, it being centrally located. The Government of India has implemented a scheme for connecting the four metropolis of the country by four-lane road. But Madhya Pradesh is not going to benefit much from it as only a very small portion of it passes through it. The roads assume even greater importance as the traffic between the four-lane roads has to run through Madhya Pradesh. It is, therefore, necessary to make the principal National Highways four-lanes in the state. There is a proposal to get the work done through Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation. Special efforts are being made to get the sanction of Government of India for this.

Some time construction of short distance roads greatly benefit the people of the concerning area. The present state government paid due attention to this. For example the two lakh odd people residing in Kolar locality and the people of 10 villages will benefit from the 8-km Gol-Amaravad road, which is under construction at present. This road will serve as a by-pass between Bhopal and Mandideep. Similarly, the area of Highway No. 18 near Bhopal (towards Sanchi-Vidisha) and Highway No 23(towards Berasia) will benefit with the construction of Sukhi Sewania-Agaria road and the journey will be reduced by 25-30 km. People of 16 villages will also benefit. Such works are being taken up in other districts also.

In a novel initiative work of tree plantation has been taken up along new roads. Almost all divisional headquarters have been connected to the state capital by roads. Now construction of roads is going on apace to connect all district headquarters to the divisional headquarters. Priority has also been given to connecting all tahasil headquarters to the district headquarters. Special attention has been paid to quality of construction.

Madhya Pradesh would soon earn a reputation for its quality roads like Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhrya Pradesh. A sum of Rs. 100 crore is being spent on construction of quality roads leading to tourist centres of the state. The journey by road to Pachmarchi, the lone hill station in Madhya Pradesh would soon be as enjoyable as the stay there with the construction of a quality road. The road journey to the world-renowned Buddhist centre, Sanchi will be easier for the tourists and devotees with the construction of 50 km Bhopal-Sanchi road under A.D.B. project. The Mandla-Kanha road is also nearing completion. Amarkantak, Mandau, Bhojpur, Bhedaghat, Omkareshwar , Maheshwar and Orchha are also being connected by quality roads.

Quality district roads are being constructed and upgraded as per the proposals of public representatives from Mandi Fund. The length of principal district level roads is about 11 thousand km. These roads are constructed and maintained by Public Works Department. Construction of roads and culverts has been included under the tenth phase of the NABARD. Works costing Rs.300 crore will be carried out this year under it. The construction of principal district roads is being carried out under different schemes. Construction of 3085 km roads is being done from Mandi Fund, 4411 km under Fast Track Scheme, 1256 km under NABARD, 72 km under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana , 145 km under NVDA , 103 km under Simhastha scheme and 833 from the Central Road Fund. A total of five thousand km roads have been constructed from Mandi Fund and another 1thousand km is likely to be constructed in next two years.

One would, thus, see that the state government has lived upto its commitment to improving the condition of roads, thereby giving a great relief to the people and boosting development of the state. With the construction and upgradation of roads going on a war footing now no distance is long distance in Madhya Pradesh.

Shivam