“National Highways in the states are being four-laned by NHAI. As of now only 829 km of the total length of 4,277 km of the National Highways has been four-laned in the state,” Chouhan said in a statement.

He said that the remaining portion of the NH should be four-laned soon as it will bring investment and development to the state.

He said that Dewas-Gwalior section (450 km) of Agra-Mumbai, NH-3, NH-75 between Jhansi and Bameetha, NH-8 between Satna-Bela-Rewa-Singrauli (upto UP Border) and NH-12 Bhopal to Jabalpur, needs to be developed by NHAI as four lane corridors immediately.

Union Minister Kamal Nath has assured the chief minister to get early clearance of all the projects pending with the Centre.

Kamal Nath said that national highways passing through Madhya Pradesh will be developed on priority basis because of state's strategic location.

Chouhan also met the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and informed him about the prevailing water crisis in Nimad and Malwa region in the state.

He reminded Pawar that in the last year the Centre had given initial assistance of Rs 1,500 crore and long term loan of Rs 24,000 crore was given to tackle severe drought in Bundelkhand region.

“But, till now nothing (not even a single paisa) has been received,” he said.