Vidisha, Jan 17 (NationPress) The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, officially inaugurated completed segments and laid foundational stones for eight national highway projects in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, with a cumulative value exceeding Rs 4,400 crore.

This extensive initiative, covering nearly 181 km, is designed to improve connectivity throughout Central India and the Bundelkhand area, thereby promoting agriculture, commerce, tourism, logistics, and overall socio-economic development.

“There is no waste; we need to motivate individuals to transform waste into wealth,” he asserted, advocating for similar initiatives across the nation to convert refuse and sewage into lucrative ventures, potentially fostering a substantial business ecosystem. “I monetize waste toilet water and generate Rs 300 crore in Nagpur; now, I will also sell garbage,” he illustrated.

Minister Gadkari reiterated his ambition for a “smart villages” concept, inspired by smart cities. He unveiled plans for a model village comprising 1,000 houses, where inhabitants would receive complimentary electricity indefinitely, negating the necessity to relocate to urban areas for essential utilities. “We must create smart villages,” he emphasized, underlining the importance of sustainable rural communities powered by renewable resources and contemporary infrastructure.

In a light-hearted moment, Gadkari humorously advised Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to aggressively pursue additional funding, referencing the iconic dialogue from “Deewar”, where a character insists on paying any price for a property. He assured the timely execution of all projects, mentioning ongoing four-lane developments along routes such as Nasrullaganj-Rehti-Budni.

The event, which included Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and other notable figures, featured the inauguration of enhanced roads and the commencement of new four-laning and safety infrastructure projects.

Key features include the four-laning of the 12.38 km Abdullaganj to Itarsi section (Rs 418 crore) traversing the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary on NH-46. This crucial segment, previously a two-lane bottleneck adjacent to four-lane stretches, will now facilitate smoother traffic movement, reduce travel times by 15-30 minutes, lower fuel consumption and pollution, and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.

Special environmental precautions entail animal underpasses for safe tiger and wildlife crossings, along with soundproof corridors to diminish noise pollution. These initiatives align with the ministry's dedication to balancing infrastructure growth with ecological preservation. Three modern driving training centers were also proposed to enhance road safety and driver skill development.

During his address, Gadkari highlighted innovative strategies for sustainability and rural advancement. These projects complement the Centre's endeavor to fortify Madhya Pradesh's road network under NHAI and MoRTH. Enhanced highways will shorten travel durations, improve safety, and foster industrial and agricultural advancement in the state.

Senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised the projects as a “great gift” to the Vidisha parliamentary constituency and the surrounding area.

Officials noted that the expanding highway infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh is generating new momentum for economic and social progress.