408 km Atal Expressway: A Ray of Hope In Chambal's Struggle Against Poverty And Ravines

In what could prove a key poll year gift for Madhya Pradesh, the work on the “Atal Progressway” is likely to begin soon.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) over the last fortnight, invited bids for building the ‘Atal Progressway’ in a major stretch of Madhya Pradesh. The Atal Progressway network starting from Kota to Etawah will provide seamless travel between Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The 408.77-km-long Progressway is a four-lane access-controlled expressway connecting Kota in Rajasthan to Etawah in Uttar Pradesh via Sheopur, Morena and Bhind districts in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The proposed project starts from NH-27 in Seemalya Village in Kota district, Rajasthan and ends at Ninawa village in Etawah district in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The lion’s share of the greenfield expressway, at nearly 300 km, will pass through Madhya Pradesh.

The NHAI has until now invited bids for expressway of 219 Km length in Madhya Pradesh. These include 60.9 km in Sheopur district (Package III), 50.6 Km in Sheopur and Morena districts (Package IV), 59 Km in Morena district (Package V), and 47.95 Km in Morena district (Package VI).

Chambal Expressway

The expressway is also called “Chambal expressway” as it passes through Chambal Valley. The Chambal valley lies at the intersection of three states, namely, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

With Chambal river creating a natural boundary, it covers a fairly large area of more than 12000 sq. km in the districts of Etawah in UP, Kota, Sawai Madhopur and Dholpur districts of Rajasthan and Bhind, Morena and Sheopur districts of Madhya Pradesh. 

The Chambal valley with peculiar topography, added with ravines, semi-arid land has lagged in development, and had a dark history of legendary brigands and lawlessness.

It will enhance economic development in the area through industrialisation, tourism, commercial developments and consequent employment.