Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, today inaugurated the Rs 8.16 billion Shelad to Nandura project on the Amravati-Chikhali National Highway 53 at Khamgaon, Buldhana, Maharashtra. National Highway 53 serves as a vital commerce link between Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, as well as other states in the country. This highway also connects the Maharashtra districts of Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, (Khamgaon), Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur, and Bhandara. This highway is particularly significant since it connects the Raipur-Nagpur-Surat or East-West corridor. The overall length of the Sadar Shelad-Nandura division quadrangle project is 45 kilometers, which comprises a 14-kilometer greenfield bypass, four major bridges, sixteen minor bridges, 63 culverts, one ROB, eight vehicle underpasses, two pedestrian underpasses, and twelve bus shelters. This initiative will benefit the well-known silver market of Silver City Khamgaon, a subdivision of the Buldhana district. This project has solved the problem of traffic congestion in Khamgaon city and will also help to reduce the number of accidents. The vehicle underpass and ROB will keep road users safe. The project will make it easier to go to Shegaon, Lonar, and other spiritually and geographically significant locations. The project will result in the growth of tourism, health, education, and job creation. A program was announced for the Malkapur-Buldhana-Chikhli road, which will cost Rs 12 billion, and the Balapur-Shegaon road, which will cost Rs 3.50 billion. In addition, sanction was provided for the work of 25 crores on the highways from Chikhali to Thakarkhed. See also: Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Rs 816 crore Amravati-Chikhali highway sectionGadkari initiates 25 km 2-lane highway for northeast connectivity