Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways  Shri Nitin Gadkari today inaugurated  the Shelad to Nandura project costing Rs 816 crore on Amravati-Chikhali National Highway 53 at Khamgaon , Buldhana, Maharashtra.

National Highway 53 is important as an important trade link between Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha or states in the country. Also, this highway is a highway connecting Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, (Khamgaon) Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra. This highway is also important as it has good connectivity for Raipur-Nagpur-Surat or East-West corridor.

The total length of the quadrangle project of Sadar Shelad-Nandura division is 45 km and includes 14 km greenfield bypass, 4 major bridges, 16 minor bridges, 63 culverts, 1 ROB, 8 vehicle underpasses, 2 pedestrian underpasses, 12 bus shelters. This project will be useful for the famous silver market of Silver City Khamgaon, which is a subdivision of Buldhana district.

With this project the problem of traffic congestion in Khamgaon city has been solved and it will also help in reducing the number of accidents. Vehicle underpass and ROB will ensure the safety of road users. The project will facilitate reaching Shegaon, Lonar or religiously and geographically important places. The project will lead to development of tourism, health, education and employment generation.

Under the Central Government's Amrit Sarovar scheme of opening the ponds under the highway project, Jalkumbhachi has been constructed, this has helped in removing the problem of water-drainage in hot and dry areas like Khamgaon.

A program was announced for the Malkapur-Buldhana-Chikhli road with a cost of Rs 1,200 crore and Balapur-Shegaon or 22 km road with a cost of Rs 350 crore. Besides, approval was given for the work of 25 crores from Chikhali to Thakarkhed and other roads.

******

MJPS