In a major relief for residents of 35 villages in Petlawad, Thandla, and Meghnagar areas of Jhabua district, the ban on land acquisition and transactions for the construction of the Badnawar–Petlawad–Thandla–Timarwani four-lane National Highway has been lifted. The order, issued just ahead of the festive season, allows villagers to buy and sell land freely, sparking renewed activity in the local real estate market.The proposed 80-kilometre four-lane highway, estimated to cost around Rs 19 billion, will directly connect to the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway and link Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The project is expected to be completed before the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain in 2028, significantly improving regional connectivity, easing traffic, and fostering industrial growth.The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had earlier notified land survey numbers (khasras) in the affected villages, after which the administration imposed restrictions on land transactions to prevent disputes. These restrictions have now been revoked by Collector Neha Meena, following NHAI’s clearance, enabling normal land registration processes to resume.According to officials, the highway’s development will not only boost mobility and trade but also benefit industrial projects such as the PM MITRA Mega Textile Park under construction in Bhensola, Dhar district, which will connect directly to the new highway corridor.Villages benefiting from the decision include Naharpura, Sarangi, Temariya, Petlawad, Khoriya, Chhoti Bolasa, Timarwani, Bead Mahudipada, Machhlai Mata, Nawapara Kasba, Mahuda, Kundala, and several others spread across the three tehsils.The lifting of restrictions has already led to a surge in land prices along the proposed route, benefitting landowners and developers. “With the removal of the ban, the number of property registrations will rise sharply, which will also increase government revenue,” said G.L. Mandloi, District Registrar, Jhabua.Currently, about 25–30 property registrations are recorded daily across the district, a figure expected to climb further as commercial and residential development picks up along the planned four-lane highway.The project, a key component of Madhya Pradesh’s transport infrastructure expansion, aims to enhance connectivity, trade, and employment opportunities across western India while laying the foundation for integrated regional development.