MP Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Thursday reviewed the ongoing projects of the Public Works Department (PwD) and said the rapidly expanding road network across Madhya Pradesh is beginning to deliver direct economic benefits to the state’s metropolitan regions, particularly Bhopal and Indore-Ujjain.

The Chief Minister said that the ongoing infrastructure push would transform connectivity and accelerate development across the state. He added that future metropolitan regions such as Jabalpur and Gwalior are also expected to benefit significantly from these projects.

CM directs officials to complete all works before Simhastha 2028

During the meeting, CM Yadav instructed officials to ensure that all crucial road construction work linked to the upcoming Simhastha 2028 is completed several months before the event begins, keeping public convenience in mind.

Major highway projects to transform connectivity in these cities

Officials in attendance in the meeting informed Chief Minister Dr Yadav that projects including the Indore-Ujjain six-lane corridor, the Ujjain-Jaora Greenfield four-lane highway, and the Indore-Ujjain Greenfield four-lane highway are expected to open new avenues of economic growth for the entire region.

PwD Minister Rakesh Singh, Chief Secretary Anurag Jain and senior officials attended the review meeting.

CM Yadav also praised the department’s efforts to reduce road accidents through innovation and improved planning. He suggested that the PwD should coordinate with other departments to distribute helmets to farmers travelling from villages to cities on two-wheelers to transport fruits and vegetables. He further directed officials to identify accident-prone stretches and establish first-aid centres nearby through inter-departmental coordination.

Road accidents decline by nearly 20%, say officials

According to data presented during the meeting, Madhya Pradesh currently has 481 identified black spots. Authorities claimed that sustained intervention has led to a remarkable drop in accidents.

While the state recorded 16,006 road accidents during the first quarter of 2025, the number declined to 15,278 during the same period in 2026, marking a reduction of 728 cases. Injuries and fatalities also fell by 610 and 350 respectively, reflecting an overall decline of 15 to 20% in accidents.

Several measures have been implemented under road safety initiatives, including speed restrictions near school zones, warning signage, lane discipline markings and improved traffic direction systems.

Ring roads, ROBs and elevated corridors to push urban growth

The Chief Minister directed officials to expedite the construction of ring roads in major cities. Authorities said that the 35.6-km western bypass in Bhopal is targeted for completion within the next two-and-a-half years, while ring roads in Jabalpur, Gwalior and Ujjain are expected to be completed within 18 months.

New ring road projects are also being initiated in smaller but rapidly growing cities such as Ratlam, Dewas, Sagar, Satna, Rewa and Katni.

Officials further informed in the meeting that Madhya Pradesh has emerged among the leading states in the construction of railway overbridges (ROBs). So far, 105 ROBs have been built on PWD roads, while additional projects under the Road Development Corporation and the National Highways Authority of India are underway. Notably, elevated corridor projects in Bhopal and Gwalior are nearing completion, while similar projects have already commenced in Indore and Ujjain.