Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday, 25 September 2026, directed the immediate suspension of toll collection at the Shahpura toll plaza in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, after damage to the Shahpura Rail Over Bridge (ROB) disrupted traffic and caused significant inconvenience to daily commuters. The order came during a high-level review meeting on National Highway projects held at the residence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Bhopal.

Key Directions from the Review Meeting

Beyond the toll suspension, Gadkari issued a broad set of directives aimed at accelerating highway development across the state. He specifically called for faster execution of road projects connecting Ujjain ahead of Simhastha 2028, the massive religious congregation that is expected to draw millions of pilgrims. He also ordered officials to prepare a detailed action plan to improve road connectivity to Kanha National Park from Nagpur, Jabalpur, and Raipur, according to a state government statement.

An action plan to strengthen the road network in Balaghat district was also sought. Gadkari emphasised that project timelines must be honoured without compromise on construction quality or road safety. “Every project must be designed according to technical standards, particularly road safety norms. Where work is stalled because of difficulties faced by residents, solutions should be found through dialogue and coordination,” he said.

Land Acquisition and Forest Clearance in Focus

A recurring bottleneck for highway projects — land acquisition and forest clearance — was directly addressed. Gadkari directed state officials to coordinate more closely with the Centre to prevent delays. “Land acquisition and forest clearance cases should be pursued closely with the concerned ministries so that there is no delay in project completion,” he said. This instruction signals a more hands-on federal push to clear long-pending approvals that have stalled several National Highway stretches in the state.

Projects Reviewed

The meeting covered a range of infrastructure projects. These included the Sandalpur-Nasrullaganj bypass in Dewas district, the Ujjain-Jhalawar four-lane project, the Satna-Chitrakoot four-lane project, the Jabalpur-Lakhnadon-Raipur greenfield expressway, and the Launi-Burhanpur link. Gadkari also confirmed that the Atal Expressway would be extended up to Bateshwar in Uttar Pradesh, invoking former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's personal connection to the location.

Bus Services Resume After Two Decades

Earlier in the day, Gadkari flagged off the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva at Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal, marking the resumption of government bus services in Madhya Pradesh after more than two decades. He subsequently visited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Bhopal, where he met party leaders and workers.

Chief Minister Yadav, speaking at the review meeting, said road infrastructure expansion was gaining momentum under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and through initiatives driven by Gadkari. “The rapid expansion of road infrastructure is strengthening connectivity in Madhya Pradesh and is also giving impetus to industrial activities and religious tourism,” Yadav said.

The review meeting was attended by Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Rakesh Singh, Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal, and senior officials from both the state government and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. With Simhastha 2028 now firmly on the infrastructure calendar, the pace of project completions in the coming months will be closely watched.