Prior to the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, it was announced that a significant benefit had been bestowed upon the residents of the capital city by the state government. The cabinet under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister, had granted approval for the construction of a 40.90 km-long South-West Bypass in the capital. The estimated cost of this project was Rs 29.81 billion. At that time, the existing bypass stretched for 52 km along national highway (NH)-46, starting from Gyarah Mill and concluding at Bhauri on the Bhopal-Indore route. However, it was mentioned that this bypass covered the city from three directions, causing vehicles heading towards Indore to travel an additional 23 km. It had been acknowledged by authorities for a long time that a western bypass in Bhopal city was necessary. The newly planned bypass, which spanned 41 km, was set to start before Mandideep (on Obedullaganj and Mandideep road) and end on Indore Road in village Phanda Kalan. The successful completion of the proposed western bypass was also expected to give the state capital its much-awaited ring road. It was stated that the western bypass would establish a direct link between the Mandideep industrial zone and the industrial hub, Indore, bringing systematic development to the west side of the city and facilitating the movement of vehicles on the outer perimeters of Bhopal, thus providing a solution to the traffic congestion in the city. Details of the project included the construction of a 6-lane structure, with a four-lane road and two-lane service road on both sides. This construction was to be carried out by Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation. Along the route, it was planned to build one railway overbridge (ROB), two flyovers, fifteen underpasses, and two major junctions, which were expected to greatly enhance the functionality and connectivity of the bypass. It was also noted that the construction of the project would follow the hybrid annuity model, a variation of the PPP model used for highway projects. Also read:  Bhopal cabinet approves major infrastructure projects NHAI's project awarding and asset monetisation updates for FY24