The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the upgradation and widening of sections of National Highway 347B in Madhya Pradesh covering a total length of 233.653 km. The project comprises conversion of an existing intermediate lane to a two-lane with paved shoulder standard for 125.01 km of the Hiwarkhedi-Roshni-Ashapur-Rudhy section and widening of an existing two-lane to four-lane for 108.643 km between Deshgaon and Julwaniya on a Hybrid Annuity Mode. The total capital cost is Rs 44,156 million (mn). Total civil cost is Rs 27,050.8 mn and land acquisition cost is Rs 4,327.7 mn, forming the overall outlay for the 233.653 km corridor. An extended Greenfield bypass of 16.20 km in Khargone district will be developed and additional bypasses of 70.39 km and 54.273 km are planned for the respective sections. The upgrade aims to address severe geometric deficiencies, sharp curves and congestion in built-up areas across Betul, Khandwa, Khargone and Barwani districts. The upgraded corridor is intended to increase average travel speeds, reduce travel time and improve road safety, fuel efficiency and vehicle operating costs, thereby supporting regional mobility and socio-economic development. It will provide seamless connectivity to six PM Gati-Shakti economic nodes including a textile cluster, two mega food parks, an industrial park and two super thermal power plants, as well as five social nodes covering two aspirational districts and three tribal districts. The route will also link five logistic nodes including two major railway stations, two airports and one multimodal logistic park in Indore. The project is expected to generate direct employment of one point nine five million (mn) person-days and indirect employment of two point three mn person-days. Implementation on Hybrid Annuity Mode will be overseen by the relevant agencies and is intended to facilitate faster movement of goods and passengers across the region. The approval follows standard procedures and seeks to enhance integration of road infrastructure with wider economic nodes and transport networks.