Cabinet approved proposed Narmada Expressway renamed as Narmada Pragati Path approved

A meeting of the Council of Ministers was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The cabinet has approved to rename the proposed Narmada Expressway as Narmada Pragati Path in Madhya Pradesh. Along with this, sanction was given to the proposal of construction of feeder routes to connect the category, width and major areas of the routes in different sections according to the alignment proposal of Narmada Expressway in the state and in-principle approval was given to authorise the Public Works Department to obtain approval in coordination with the Government of India. Along with this, approval was given to authorise the Department of Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion to implement an action plan for the development works of industrial areas on the Narmada Pragati Path for the purpose of financing and investment promotion.

The alignment of the proposed Narmada Expressway starting from Kabir Chabutra (Amarkantak) to Dindori-Jabalpur-Obedullaganj- Budhni- Nasrullaganj-Sandalpur- Karnawad- Indore- Dhar-Sardarpur- Jhabua (MP/Gujarat border) is proposed, with a total length of about 906 km. According to the proposal, Kabir Chabutra to Dindori 76 km 2 lane, Dindori to Jabalpur 155 km 2 lane, Jabalpur Bypass Greenfield 18 km 4 lane, Jabalpur to Obedullaganj 269 km 4 lane, Obedullaganj to Budhni 32 km 4 lane, Budhni-Rehti-Nasrullaganj 53 km 2 lanes, Nasrullaganj to Sandalpur 35 km proposed 4 lanes, Sandalpur to Karnawad 60 km 4 lanes, Karnawad to Indore 33 km 4 lanes and Indore-Dhar-Jhabua-MP/Gujarat border 175 km 4 lanes were approved.

In-principle approval was given to the proposal to connect major areas in the alignment of Narmada Pragati Path include as National Highway from Shahdol to Sagar Tola (27 km before Amarkantak) 67 km 2 lanes, Rewa to Jabalpur 212 km 4 lanes, Bhopal to Obedullaganj 30 km 4 lanes, Harda to Sandalpur 29 km 4 lanes, Hoshangabad to Budni 6 km 4 lanes, Khandwa to Indore 125 km 4 lanes, Khargone to Khalghat (Indore) 52 km 2 lanes, Barwani to Thikri (Indore) 53 km 2 lanes, Dewas to Indore 25 km 6 lanes and as a state route Harsud to Harda 45 km 4 lane, Ratlam to Labad (Indore) 90 km 4 lane and Ujjain to Indore 45 km 4 lane.

The cabinet approved the collection of consumer fee for five years through a contracting agency on 17 previously constructed roads under Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation. Toll rates have been fixed on these 17 routes according to per kilometer per trip. Approval has been given to fix toll rates on light commercial vehicles at Rs 1.4704, trucks at Rs 3.6501 and multi axle trucks at Rs 7.2830.

The above rates at each toll plaza will be increased every year on the basis of Wholesale Price Index and will be rounded off to the nearest five rupees. This increase will be made effective from September 1 at the rate of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) announced by the Government of India for the financial year ending March 31 every year. For this, the wholesale price index of 31 March 2007 will be taken as the basis. On these routes all vehicles of Government of India and Government of Madhya Pradesh which are on official duty, non-commercial vehicles of former and present Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly, all such vehicles which are on duty of Indian Army, Ambulance, Fire Brigade, vehicles of the Department of Indian Post and Telegraph, tractor trolleys used for agricultural purposes, auto rickshaws, two wheelers and bullock carts, freedom fighters and accredited journalists and in addition passenger vehicles such as buses, cars, jeeps, etc. will be exempted from toll. Before the actual toll starts on these 17 routes, it will be certified by the corporation that necessary improvement works have been completed on the routes and approval has been given to prepare an action plan for improvement/upgradation for the next three years.

MP Start-up Policy and Implementation Plan 2022 cum Process and Guidelines was approved by the cabinet to encourage start-ups in the state. Under the policy, provision has been made for financial and non-financial facilities, assistance and facilitation to start-ups and incubators. For the establishment of new ITI in the development block Badwaha, district Khargone, the cabinet approved the creation of 19 proposed posts of instructor and 11 administrative posts and approved the financial provision for the expected recurring expenditure. Along with this, approval was given for creation of 8 posts (4 posts financial year 2022-23 and 4 posts financial year 2023-24) for starting a new civil faculty in Government Polytechnic College Anuppur and for financial provision of about Rs 488 lakh 3 thousand for expected recurring expenditure.

The cabinet gave approval for the creation of proposed 24 academic posts, 14 posts of assistant staff and 6 posts on outsource at the rate fixed by the district collector for conducting two new courses in Engineering College Jabalpur and financial provision for the expected recurring expenditure of about Rs. 349 lakh 40 thousand. Under the Department of Technical Education, Skill Development and Employment, ex-post facto approval was given for the creation of 181 academic posts in the courses started from time to time in government, autonomous/ women’s polytechnic colleges ten to thirty years ago.

The cabinet has approved an estimated expenditure of Rs 50 lakh for sending equestrian Shri Faraz Khan for training in Germany for the preparation of the 19th Asian Games 2022 in China. The cabinet gave its approval to change the name of “Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board” to “Madhya Pradesh Staff Selection Board” and hand over the works related to it to the General Administration Department.