Mumbai, Aug. 31 -- The State Cabinet approved a government guarantee for a Rs 46 bn loan to be taken by the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) from NABARD Infrastructure Development Assistance to develop 12 road routes.
The approvals formed part of a package of proposals amounting to Rs 106.3 bn covering infrastructure, health, cyber security and social welfare works.
The guarantee is intended to enable upfront financing for multiple projects and to mobilise resources for long term road expansion across the state. Officials said the measure will help stagger capital expenditure over coming years.
The 12 routes include strategic links such as Bhopal-Vidisha and an eastern Bhopal bypass upgrade from four lanes to six lanes with paved shoulder, as well as corridors connecting Neemuch, Manasa, Rampura and Jhalawad.
Other corridors slated for development comprise Indore-Depalpur four-lane upgrade, Mandsaur-Sitamau and several state highway sections intended to improve connectivity for traders, commuters and freight movement.
The ownership of 22 main roads will be transferred to MPRDC on token price and the MPRDC board will issue shares in favour of the state government.
A sum of Rs 39.609 bn was sanctioned for construction and allied works on the 91.64 km Seoni-Balaghat road, which will be developed as a four-lane carriageway with paved shoulder.
For land acquisition, preconstruction activities and supervision charges an additional Rs 5.0116 bn was approved.
The project is expected to benefit about 0.8 mn people and loan repayment and interest for transferred routes will be met through toll collection and other allocated resources.
The Cabinet also sanctioned 244 posts for the Ujjain based Dhanvantari Medical University and approved Rs 800 mn under the MPCERT scheme for cyber security management.
The agenda included authorisation for the Economic Offences Wing under the BNS 2023 framework and other administrative measures to support project implementation.
Officials indicated the measures aim to accelerate delivery of key infrastructure while leveraging toll revenue to manage debt service.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.