Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Good news is on the horizon for commuters travelling through the 76-year-old Mortakka Bridge over the Narmada River in Barwah tehsil, located on the Indore-Khandwa National Highway NH-347BG.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is fast-tracking the construction of new bridges, with one of the two 3-lane bridges expected to be ready for heavy traffic before the monsoon, by July this year. The second bridge is also set to be completed by the end of this year and the entire Indore-Khandwa Highway project is expected to be finished by November 2026.
NHAI is constructing Indore-Hyderabad Corridor NH-347BG, commonly known as Indore-Khandwa Road in 4 packages. The project faces two major challenges: the difficult, hilly terrain between the villages of Simrol and Balwada, which requires tunnelling, and the construction of two 3-lane bridges over the Narmada River.
The bridges, which are being built at a height of 30 meters (more than 100 feet) from the riverbed, will be separate for incoming and outgoing traffic.
The construction of these bridges is progressing swiftly, with a major hurdle overcome at the mid-span of the river. The flow of water in the Narmada River remains high, making the construction of pillars from P-14 to P-17 difficult. To tackle this, a cofferdam—a temporary watertight enclosure was built to create a dry working environment. This was achieved by lowering the water level of the Narmada River through the controlled release of water from the Omkareshwar Dam from April 1 to 5.
During this period, the cofferdam was set up, and girder launchers were installed to position the slabs. The installation of these structures now provides access for cranes and other machinery to reach the mid-span of the river, enabling work on the pillars and slabs to continue at an accelerated pace.
NHAI officials are optimistic that the work will be completed by June, and by July, the first 3-lane bridge will be open for heavy traffic. The highway’s four packages have made considerable progress.
Package 1, which spans 9 km from Bhanwarkua Square to Tejaji Nagar Square, is already 100% complete.
Package 2, which stretches 33 km from Tejaji Nagar to Balwada, of which 22 km is green field, is 76% finished, with the construction of three tunnels completed and the approach roads under construction. This section is expected to be completed by February 2026.
Package 3, covering 40 km from Balwada to Dhangoan, of which 34 km is green field highway, is also progressing well, with the construction of bridges over the Narmada River being a key focus.
Package 4, from Dhangoan to Chhegoan Makhhan, is fully completed.
The new highway, once completed, will ease congestion and provide a safer, more efficient route for travellers and freight alike.
To speed up the construction work in the mid-span of the Narmada River, wherein the flow of water remains high, the water level of the river was kept low from April 1 to 5. During this period we succeeded in building a Cofferdam.
Now our work will go fast and we will be a position to open one 3-lane bridge of left side open for movement of heavy traffic before the monsoon by July this year. The whole project would be completed by November 2026.
