MP: Jabalpur Outer Ring Road to reshape Mahakaushal region, boost trade and tourism

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bhopal, May 29 (IANS) The ambitious Jabalpur Outer Ring Road project being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to emerge as a major infrastructure milestone for Madhya Pradesh, promising to transform connectivity and accelerate economic growth across the Mahakaushal region.

Spread across 114 kilometres and being constructed at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 3,540 crore, the four‑lane Greenfield corridor is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion in Jabalpur while strengthening trade, tourism, agriculture and industrial activity in the region.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh described the project as a “game changer” for Jabalpur and adjoining districts.

He said the project would provide a new direction to the development of the Jabalpur region. It will not only reduce traffic pressure inside the city but will also strengthen regional trade, tourism and industrial activities.

The project has been designed primarily to divert heavy and long‑distance vehicles away from the city limits, ensuring smoother and faster movement of traffic connecting Madhya Pradesh with Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

Once completed, commercial and transit vehicles travelling across these states will no longer need to pass through the crowded urban stretches of Jabalpur, Singh said.

Over the past several years, rapid urbanisation and increasing industrial activity have led to mounting traffic congestion in the city. Long traffic snarls, delays in transportation and rising fuel consumption had become a routine challenge for commuters and transporters alike, Singh, who is a local politician from Jabalpur, further stated.

The Outer Ring Road will offer a long‑term solution by creating an efficient bypass corridor around the city.

To ensure timely implementation, the project has been divided into five construction packages covering Barela‑Manegaon, Manegaon‑NH‑45, NH‑45‑Kushner, Kushner‑Amjhar and Amjhar‑Barela stretches.

Together, these sections will form a complete transport network around Jabalpur and improve road connectivity to nearby towns, villages and the Jabalpur Airport.

Highlighting the tourism potential of the project, Singh said improved connectivity would make travel easier to prominent destinations such as Bhedaghat, Dhuandhar Falls, Gwari Ghat and Kanha National Park.

He added that the new Ring Road would strengthen tourism infrastructure and generate employment opportunities for local people.

–IANS

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New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 1 (IANS) More than a year after the devastating landslides struck Wayanad, the Centre on Wednesday sanctioned its first dedicated financial assistance for the district’s reconstruction.

A High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved Rs 260.56 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as against Kerala’s demand for Rs 2,221 crore.

The allocation, announced, is meant for rebuilding areas ravaged by the July 2023 landslides in Mundakkai and Chooralmala.

The July 30, 2024, disaster decimated four villages, injured hundreds, claimed over 200 lives, and left 32 people still missing.

The approval comes after 14 months of repeated pleas from the state government and elected representatives.

The Centre’s assistance, however, is only about 11 per cent of the funds sought through the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA).

The committee cleared a total of Rs 4,645.60 crore for nine states.

Comparisons have already triggered criticism, as BJP-ruled Assam, which experienced landslides in 2022, received a much larger package of Rs 1,270.78 crore.

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh had earlier been granted Rs 1,658.17 crore and Rs 2,006.40 crore, respectively.

Kerala had earlier been sanctioned Rs 529.50 crore as a loan for disaster relief operations and an additional Rs 153 crore in July this year.

However, state leaders have long been pressing for a special package for Wayanad’s rehabilitation.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a delegation of UDF MPs led by Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi met Amit Shah in person to raise the demand.

Despite such interventions, no major announcement was forthcoming until now.

Both the ruling Left and the opposition Congress have accused the Centre of ignoring Wayanad’s plight despite the Prime Minister visiting the region in the aftermath of the calamity.

With the present sanction, the state government is expected to initiate the next phase of reconstruction works, though demands for a larger package to fully restore Wayanad remain strong.

Incidentally, in March this year, on the part of the state government’s Wayanad rehabilitation programme, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan laid the foundation stone for the project, which aims to provide 1,000 sq-ft houses on seven cents of land each to 402 select beneficiaries.

During his speech, CM Vijayan criticised the Union government for failing to provide adequate disaster relief, as the state received no Central aid and had only loans that the state must repay.

–IANS

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J&K Waqf Board hands over appointment letter to brother of local killed in Pahalgam terror attack

Srinagar, May 1 (IANS) J&K Waqf Board Chairperson, Darakhshan Andrabi, handed over the appointment letter to the brother of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, the pony wallah, who was killed by terrorists in the Pahalgam attack while he tried to save tourists.

Speaking to reporters, Andrabi said that the next of kin of Adil has been provided the job letter to honour the sacrifice of the horse ride operator.

“His sacrifice will always be remembered,” Andrabi said.

Eye-witnesses claimed Syed Adil Hussain had a scuffle with the terrorists when he asked them why they were killing innocent people.

They further claimed that he tried to snatch the weapons of one terrorist but was shot dead during the scuffle.

At least 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, were killed on April 22 by the terrorists in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. The nation was outraged by the terror attack.

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After a meeting with the Defence Minister, National Security Advisor, Chief of Defence Services (CDS), three chiefs of Army, Navy and the Air Force, the Prime Minister announced that the armed forces had been given free hand to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack by deciding the timing, target and the magnitude of the response against the terrorists, true backers and handlers.

On Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a 40-minute-long meeting with the Prime Minister. The Defence Minister met PM Modi after he received a detailed briefing by the CDS on the preparedness of the country’s armed forces to meet any eventuality.

J&K L-G also held a security review meeting with Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in Srinagar a few days ago, and asked the Army to use whatever force is required to hunt down the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Meanwhile, to send a powerful message to terrorists, their Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and sympathisers, security forces continue demolition of the houses of terrorists.

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–IANS

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‘Bharat does not flinch & forget’: Kanada actor hails PM Modi on Operation Sindoor

Bengaluru, May 10 (IANS) Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep on Saturday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the success of Operation Sindoor carried out by the Indian armed forces against Pakistan.

“As the nation salutes the triumph of Operation Sindoor, I write to you with deep admiration. It was not just a response, it was a statement. A bold, decisive message to the world that Bharat does not flinch, Bharat does not forget, and Bharat always rises,” Sudeep wrote.

“In you, we see a leader who doesn’t just guide with words, but with conviction. The clarity and confidence with which this operation was carried out reflect the very spirit of our civilisation, which has always been fearless, dharmic, and resolute.”

The actor said that every Kannadiga, and the entire Kannada film industry, stands firmly with the Prime Minister. “We draw inspiration from your courage.”

He said that under PM Modi’s leadership, the defence forces have demonstrated unmatched precision, discipline, and bravery. “Their success is our pride. We stand united as one people, one voice, one nation. Jai Hind. Jai Karnataka. Jai Bharat.”

Sudeep has also recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s letter to him, paying condolences on the death of his mother, gave him strength.

“I wish to thank you for the deeply moving condolence letter on the passing of my mother, Smt. Saroja Sanjeev. In that moment of personal loss, your words offered strength and compassion that I will carry with me forever.”

Sudeep concluded his letter by saying, “With pride and solidarity.”

Sudeep, also known as Kichcha Sudeepa, is an Indian actor, director, producer, screenwriter, singer and television presenter, who primarily works in Kannada cinema.

He has also worked in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil films. He has been hosting the television reality show Big Boss in Kannada. He has acted with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in ‘Dabang 3’ and shared screen with legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan in the ‘Rann’ movie.

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