The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has granted its crucial in-principle approval for the ambitious Atal Progress-Way, widely referred to as the Chambal Expressway. This major infrastructure project is designed to create a vital link between two of India's flagship expressways – the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Bundelkhand Expressway – traversing through the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
Project Details and Revised Alignment
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed the development to the Times of India on Tuesday. The decision was finalized during a high-level review meeting chaired by Gadkari on Monday evening. The meeting saw the participation of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and two Union Ministers, Bhupender Yadav and Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The 420-kilometre expressway, estimated to cost approximately Rs 14,000 crore, will be a combination of expanding existing highway sections and constructing new greenfield stretches. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been tasked with building this six-lane, access-controlled corridor.
Officials revealed that the project's alignment underwent significant reworking after the initial plan encountered certain obstacles. The new, finalized route has been carefully planned to fall outside ecologically sensitive forest areas, wildlife zones, and the treacherous Chambal ravines (beehad). This strategic modification has already facilitated the securing of necessary environmental clearances, paving a smooth path for construction.
Connectivity Boost and Economic Impact
The Atal Progress-Way will serve as a crucial artery connecting Kota in Rajasthan to Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, while also passing through key Madhya Pradesh cities like Morena and Bhind. This enhanced connectivity is projected to dramatically reduce travel time. The current journey of 10 to 11 hours between Kota and Etawah is expected to be slashed to just 5 to 6 hours.
Beyond this primary route, the corridor is engineered to provide seamless connectivity to other major highway networks, including the Agra-Jhansi, Kota-Jhansi-Kanpur, and Agra-Kanpur highways. This interconnected web of expressways is envisioned as critical infrastructure that will not only improve passenger mobility but also facilitate the faster and more efficient movement of goods across this important economic region.
A Gateway for Aspirational Regions
Government officials have emphasized that the project is specifically aimed at boosting development in what are classified as aspirational or backward regions within all three beneficiary states. By improving physical connectivity, the Atal Progress-Way is expected to stimulate economic activity, attract investment, and create new opportunities in these areas.
The in-principle approval marks a decisive step forward for this long-awaited project. With clearances in place and alignment finalized, the focus now shifts to the detailed planning and eventual commencement of construction work on this transformative expressway that promises to reshape the connectivity landscape of central India.
