- Destinations
- Experiences
- Stay
- What's new
- Celebrating People
- Responsible Tourism
- CampaignsCampaigns
- SubscribeSubscribe
- Buy NowBuy Now
A major highway project slicing through the rugged hills of Madhya Pradesh is nearing completion, and officials say it could considerably improve road travel between central India and Hyderabad. The ambitious four-lane corridor, part of the Indore–Ichhapur National Highway, will include three tunnels carved through mountains and is expected to open by December this year.
Authorities believe the new route will make journeys safer, reduce travel time and ease traffic on one of the region’s busy interstate corridors. For travellers driving between Indore and southern India, the road promises a smoother journey that bypasses dangerous hill sections and steep ghats that motorists currently navigate.
The highway represents a major engineering effort in the state, especially along a challenging stretch that passes through rocky terrain and forested hills.
The most striking feature of the project is a series of tunnels drilled through the mountains between Tejaji Nagar in Indore and Balwada in Khargone district. This 33.40-kilometre section has long been considered one of the most difficult portions of the route because of its steep slopes and narrow roads.
Engineers are constructing three tunnels to eliminate these risky ghat stretches. The Bherughat tunnel will stretch about 575 metres, while the Choral Ghat tunnel will run for 550 metres and the Baigram tunnel for roughly 480 metres.
The tunnels are being built using modern electronic blasting technology that allows crews to cut through hard rock while maintaining safety and precision. Once completed, drivers will no longer need to negotiate winding hill roads that often slow traffic and increase the risk of accidents.
Officials from the National Highways Authority of India have confirmed that the new infrastructure will help vehicles move smoothly across terrain that previously forced drivers to slow down or take longer routes.
Beyond easing the mountain stretch, the highway is expected to strengthen connectivity between major cities and pilgrimage centres. The route will make travel easier between Indore and the sacred town of Omkareshwar, home to one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.
More importantly, it will also streamline long-distance travel between Indore and Hyderabad via Jalgaon in Maharashtra. Officials believe the improved corridor will cut congestion, shorten travel time and encourage smoother movement of both passenger vehicles and freight.
Infrastructure experts say the road could also support regional tourism and economic activity. Pilgrims heading to Omkareshwar and travellers driving between central and southern India may find the route far more accessible once the highway opens.
(With inputs from various sources.)
1. What is the new highway project between Indore and Hyderabad?
The new project is a four-lane highway along the Indore–Ichhapur National Highway in Madhya Pradesh that includes three mountain tunnels designed to improve connectivity and reduce travel time between central India and Hyderabad.
2. How many tunnels are being built on the new MP highway?
Three tunnels are being constructed on the route: the Bherughat tunnel, the Choral Ghat tunnel and the Baigram tunnel, replacing difficult ghat sections with safer mountain passages.
3. Which cities will benefit from the new highway?
The improved corridor will strengthen connectivity between Indore, Omkareshwar and Hyderabad, while also helping traffic moving through Maharashtra.
4. How will the tunnels improve travel in Madhya Pradesh?
The tunnels will allow vehicles to bypass steep and winding ghat roads, reducing accident risks and ensuring smoother movement across mountainous terrain.
5. When will the Indore–Ichhapur highway tunnels open?
Officials expect the new highway stretch with the tunnels to open by the end of 2026, after final construction and safety checks are completed.
