India, July 20 -- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday inspected the nearly completed Sleemanabad tunnel project in Katni district, describing it as a major engineering achievement that is expected to transform irrigation and agricultural productivity across the Vindhya-Mahakaushal region.

According to the state government, the tunnel will provide permanent irrigation facilities to around 2.45 lakh hectares of farmland across nearly 1,450 villages in Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Rewa and Panna districts.

Addressing officials during the visit, Yadav said the project faced several technical and geological challenges over the years before reaching its current stage. He said tunnel boring work began in phases and gained mo...