- Connectivity between Indore and Hyderabad will improve with NHAI's new highway project
- The four-lane Balwara section includes three tunnels totaling 1.8 kilometers in length
- Project cost is around Rs 1,000 crore and completion is expected by the end of 2026
Connectivity between Indore and Hyderabad is set to improve with the introduction of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)'s latest project. Construction work for the project in Madhya Pradesh is currently underway and is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities while improving access to the Omkareshwar temple.
"The four-lane project for the Balwara section includes three tunnels. The first tunnel has a viaduct that bypasses Bherughat. Tunnels 2 and 3 bypass Baigram and Choral Ghat... The project cost approximately Rs 1,000 crore, and the total length of the three tunnels is 1.8 kilometres,” Shrawan Kumar Singh, Regional Officer (RO) for the NHAI in Bhopal, told ANI.
The four-lane Indore–Ichhapur highway in Madhya Pradesh is expected to improve access to the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga temple by this December. According to Regional Officer Shravan Kumar Singh, the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
The 33.40-kilometre stretch between Tejaji Nagar in Indore and Balwada in Khargone district will include the 575-metre Bherughat tunnel, the 550-metre Choral Ghat tunnel and the 480-metre Baigram tunnel. This will allow vehicles to bypass hazardous mountain stretches and steep ghat sections, significantly reducing travel time.
Additionally, the use of electronic blasting technology during the construction of the tunnels will lower the risk of accidents and improve road safety. Moreover, it will reduce congestion on the busy interstate route and facilitate smoother vehicular movement between Indore and Hyderabad via Jalgaon in Maharashtra.
“These tunnels are being built using new Australian technology... Currently, this road is heavily congested, and if you travel from Indore to Omkareshwar, it takes 2.5 to 3 hours, with traffic jams. However, once these projects are completed in the coming days, it will take half the time to reach Omkareshwar," he added.
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Everything About Visiting Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
As visiting this pilgrimage becomes easier, here's what you need to know before travelling to this spot.
Located on the Om-shaped Mandhata Island in the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is one of India's 12 revered Shiva shrines. Renowned for its Nagara-style architecture, the temple is uniquely paired with the Mamleshwar temple on the opposite bank.
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Besides the three main rituals conducted throughout the day, devotees also perform a 7-km walking circumambulation (parikrama) around the island. October to March is the best time to visit the temple for pleasant weather. Visitors can also travel between the mainland and the island by boat, which offers scenic views of the Narmada River.
