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New Indore–Hyderabad highway with mountain tunnels expected to improve interstate travel

#Infrastructure News#Infrastructure#India
Last Updated : 13th Mar, 2026
Synopsis

A new highway corridor connecting Indore in Madhya Pradesh with Hyderabad is progressing steadily and is expected to improve road connectivity between central and southern India. The four-lane highway forms part of the Indore Ichhapur National Highway and includes three tunnels through difficult mountainous terrain to remove dangerous ghat sections. Officials from the National Highways Authority of India recently reviewed the project and indicated that the corridor is likely to be completed by December 2026. Once operational, the route is expected to reduce travel time, improve road safety and support smoother movement of passenger and commercial vehicles.

Work on a new highway corridor connecting Indore in Madhya Pradesh with Hyderabad is progressing as part of efforts to improve road connectivity between central India and southern states. The four-lane project forms part of the Indore-Ichhapur National Highway and aims to provide a faster and safer travel route for motorists moving between Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana.


Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) recently inspected the ongoing construction work and indicated that the project is moving ahead as planned. According to officials involved in the review, the highway is expected to be completed by December 2026, after which it will be opened for vehicular movement.

A key portion of the project lies between Tejaji Nagar in Indore and Balwada in Khargone district, covering around 33.40 kilometres. This section runs through mountainous terrain and has traditionally been difficult for road construction due to steep slopes and narrow ghat stretches that slow down traffic and increase accident risks.

To address these challenges, engineers are building three tunnels through the hills using modern construction techniques, including controlled electronic blasting. The tunnels are designed to bypass the steep and winding ghat roads that currently make travel slow and risky, particularly for heavy vehicles.

The three tunnels being constructed include the 575-metre-long Bherughat tunnel, the 550-metre-long Choral Ghat tunnel, and the 480-metre-long Baigram tunnel. These tunnels will allow vehicles to pass directly through the mountainous section instead of navigating sharp turns and steep gradients along the hill roads.

Officials involved in the project explained that once the tunnels are completed, the highway will offer a smoother and safer route for long-distance travellers and freight movement. The improved road alignment is also expected to help reduce travel time along the Indore-Hyderabad corridor.

The new highway will also strengthen interstate connectivity by providing a more efficient route from Indore to Hyderabad via Jalgaon in Maharashtra. This will improve road movement between key economic regions and help support trade and logistics activity across the three states.

In addition to interstate travel, the highway is expected to improve access to important religious destinations in the region. The upgraded route will make travel easier between Indore and Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the major pilgrimage sites in Madhya Pradesh that attracts a large number of visitors throughout the year.

The project is part of a broader effort to upgrade national highways across central India. In recent years, the government and NHAI have taken up several road development projects aimed at expanding highway capacity, improving safety standards and strengthening long-distance connectivity between major cities.

Once completed, the Indore-Hyderabad highway corridor is expected to ease traffic congestion on existing routes, reduce accident-prone ghat travel and create a more reliable road link between Madhya Pradesh and southern India.

Source PTI



FAQ

1. What is the new highway project connecting Indore and Hyderabad?

A new four-lane highway corridor is being developed to improve road connectivity between Indore and Hyderabad. The project forms part of the Indore-Ichhapur National Highway and aims to create a faster and safer route linking central India with southern states.

2. Which authority is responsible for the project?

The highway is being developed under the supervision of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Officials from the authority recently inspected the construction progress and confirmed that the project is advancing according to schedule.

3. What is the expected completion timeline for the highway?

Authorities have indicated that the corridor is likely to be completed by December 2026. Once construction is finished, the route will be opened for vehicular movement and is expected to improve long-distance road connectivity.

4. What are the key engineering features of the project?

A major part of the highway passes through mountainous terrain between Tejaji Nagar in Indore and Balwada in Khargone district. To address the difficult landscape, engineers are constructing three tunnels through the hills to bypass steep and winding ghat roads.

5. What tunnels are being built along the route?

The project includes three tunnels designed to improve safety and travel efficiency: the Bherughat tunnel, the Choral Ghat tunnel and the Baigram tunnel. These tunnels will allow vehicles to pass directly through the hills rather than navigating sharp turns and steep slopes.

6. How will the highway improve interstate connectivity?

The new corridor will strengthen road links between Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana. It will provide a more efficient route connecting Indore to Hyderabad via cities such as Jalgaon, supporting smoother movement of passenger vehicles and freight.

7. Will the highway help tourism and pilgrimage travel?

Yes. The improved road alignment is expected to make travel easier to religious destinations such as the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga. Better connectivity could encourage more pilgrims and tourists to visit the temple and nearby regions.

8. What benefits will the project bring once completed?

Once operational, the highway is expected to reduce travel time, improve road safety by avoiding accident-prone ghat sections, and ease congestion on existing routes. It will also strengthen logistics and trade connectivity between central and southern parts of India.

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