The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the development of a four-lane highway corridor from Badnawar–Petlawad–Thandla–Timarwani on NH-752D in Madhya Pradesh, with a total estimated cost of ₹3,839.42 crore. The project will cover a length of 80.45 km and will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) to strengthen road infrastructure and improve regional connectivity with the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (DME).
The proposed corridor will provide direct connectivity from Ujjain to the Timarwani interchange on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, significantly improving travel efficiency in the region. At present, the Badnawar–Timarwani stretch is an intermediate-lane road with limited width and poor geometry, allowing vehicle speeds of only 20–50 km per hour. The four-laning project will upgrade the corridor to support speeds of 80–100 km per hour, resulting in safer and faster mobility while reducing travel time by nearly one hour.
The project will complete the continuous four-lane connectivity between Ujjain and the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, as the 70.40 km Ujjain–Badnawar section has already been upgraded to four lanes. Once completed, the corridor will become one of the shortest routes connecting Gujarat and Maharashtra with Ujjain, strengthening inter-state connectivity and facilitating smoother traffic movement across western India.
Improved connectivity is also expected to enhance industrial and logistics efficiency by providing better access to key economic centres such as Indore, Pithampur, Ujjain and Dewas. By linking these industrial hubs with the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, the project is likely to reduce logistics costs, improve freight mobility and support regional economic development. The corridor will also help in managing increased traffic during the Simhastha Kumbh Mela scheduled in Ujjain in 2028, when millions of pilgrims are expected to visit the city.
An important aspect of the project is its potential impact on tribal regions of Dhar and Jhabua districts, through which the corridor passes. Some parts of Dhar district fall under NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Blocks Programme, aimed at accelerating development in underserved regions. Improved highway infrastructure is expected to enhance accessibility, support local economic activity, and strengthen regional connectivity with national transport corridors.
The proposed infrastructure will include a four-lane flexible pavement corridor with major bridges, minor bridges, underpasses and other safety structures designed to support uninterrupted traffic movement. The project will have a construction period of 24 months, followed by a 15-year operation and maintenance period, contributing to improved road safety, reduced congestion and better transport efficiency in Madhya Pradesh.
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