Bhopal, Aug 25 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, on Tuesday sanctioned multiple development proposals aimed at accelerating infrastructure, health, cybersecurity and social welfare initiatives across the state.
Among the key approvals is a package of ₹10.63 crore to give further momentum to these sectors, said Rakesh Singh, minister for Public Works Department (PWD) after the Cabinet meeting here on Tuesday.
A major highlight of the meeting was the decision to upgrade the Seoni-Balaghat state highway into a four-lane road with paved shoulders.
The approximately 91.64-km route, of which about 6 km passes through forest area and forms part of the already declared Tiger Tourism Corridor in Madhya Pradesh, holds significant importance for both connectivity and tourism.
Once completed, the travel time between Seoni and Balaghat is expected to reduce from nearly two hours to one hour. The project will be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).
Its estimated cost is ₹3,458 crore, with a construction, maintenance and concession period of about 17 years.
Under the model, approximately 40 per cent of the construction cost (around ₹700 crore) will be paid in 10 instalments, while the remaining 60 per cent (approximately ₹2,250 crore) will be paid over 15 years through the state budget.
The Finance Department has already accorded its approval. In a broader push to transform the state’s road network, the Cabinet also cleared the construction of 12 new roads under the same Hybrid Annuity Model.
For these projects, too, 40 per cent of the cost will be treated as expenditure and 60 per cent will be paid as annuity.
To fund these and related works, a proposal to raise a ₹4,600 crore loan through NABARD was approved.
The Cabinet further decided to transfer these roads to the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) for better execution and management.
The minister said, these decisions will help create a network of better and wider roads across Madhya Pradesh in the coming years.
The minister further informed that the Cabinet granted sanctions against certain officials in departmental cases involving fraudulent payments and approved the creation of posts for the upcoming Dhanvantari University being established by the Department of Public Health and Medical Education in Ujjain.
–IANS
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