Bhopal News: 4-Lane Western Bypass To Cut Journey Time From 1.5 Hours To 20 Minutes

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): To tackle the growing traffic congestion in the capital, Bhopal, a four-lane Western Bypass will be constructed along the outskirts of the city.

According to reports, the 31.61-kilometre-long bypass project is estimated to cost ₹3,225 crore. The four-lane bypass will stretch from the Mandideep-Ratanpur route, passing through Kolar-Ratibad and Phandakalan, to reach Phanda on the Bhopal-Dewas route.

90-Minute Journey in Just 20 Minutes

The 31.61-kilometre-long Western Bypass will primarily benefit vehicles travelling from the Jabalpur-Betul side towards Indore. Once the bypass is operational, these vehicles will no longer need to traverse through the city of Bhopal while travelling in either direction.

By diverting traffic away from city roads, the bypass will also help in decongesting Bhopal’s central areas. The bypass will also reduce travel time; a trip that currently takes 90 minutes to complete will take a mere 20 minutes.

Meeting Presided Over by CM Mohan Yadav

The review meeting of the Bhopal Western Bypass was approved during a board of directors meeting of the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) presided over by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

During this meeting, the revised alignment for the Bhopal Western Bypass was approved. Additionally, the Indore-Ujjain and Ujjain-Jaora Greenfield routes were also approved, subject to certain modifications.

No Fresh Tenders for Bhopal Western Bypass

The meeting also approved modifications to the Indore-Ujjain and Ujjain-Jaora Greenfield corridors. Changes in alignment became necessary due to the declaration of Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve and the ecological significance of the Bhoj Wetland.

These corridors will now be constructed under a 'Non-Access Control' model. This implies that vehicles will now be able to enter and exit these roads from any point along their length.