Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today inaugurated the Shelad to Nandura project costing Rs 816 crore on Amravati-Chikhali National Highway 53 at Maharashtra’s Silver City,  Khamgaon, in Buldhana district.

National Highway 53 is an important trade link between Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. This highway also connects Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, (Khamgaon) Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra. Besides, the highway provides good connectivity for Raipur-Nagpur-Surat on  East-West corridor.

The total length of the quadrangle project of Sadar Shelad-Nandura division is 45 km and includes 14 km greenfield bypass, 4 major bridges and 16 minor bridges. This project will be useful for the famous silver market of Khamgaon known as Maharashtra’s Silver City , which is a subdivision of Buldhana district.

With the inauguration of the project the problem of traffic congestion in Khamgaon city has been solved and it will also help in reducing the number of accidents. Vehicle underpass and ROB will ensure the safety of road users. The project will facilitate reaching Shegaon, Lonar or religiously and geographically important places. The project will lead to development of tourism, health, education and employment generation.

Under the Central Government’s Amrit Sarovar scheme of opening the ponds under the highway project, Jalkumbhachi has been constructed, this has helped in removing the problem of water-drainage in hot and dry areas like Khamgaon.

A program was also announced for the Malkapur-Buldhana-Chikhli road with an investment of Rs 1,200 crore and Balapur-Shegaon 22 km road with a cost of Rs 350 crore. Besides, approval was given for the Rs 25 crores project from Chikhali to Thakarkhed and other roads.