New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS): The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded the contract for four-laning of a 64km national highway stretch in Madhya Pradesh to a joint venture formed for the project, an official said on Tuesday.

The joint venture, comprising Krishna Constructions and Gawar Construction Limited, has been issued the Letter of Award (LoA) to four-lane the highway from Hiran River to Sindoor River section.

According to the NHAI, the project would be implemented in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode with a construction period of 24 months.

"The project includes upgradation of the highway from two lane to four lane with rigid pavement (cement concrete road), along with construction of four major bridges, 20 minor bridges, nine underpasses at the location of minor junctions and 29 minor junctions for free and safe movement of road users," said the statement.

According to the NHAI, 13 km of the project road passes through a wildlife sanctuary, out of which 39.750 hectare area of wildlife forest land is required for diversion.

"The road also passes through Reserve and Protected forest for two-km length, in which 11.081 hectare forest land is required for diversion.

"In order to facilitate free and safe movement of wildlife, adequate mitigation measures have been included in the project like additional span of five metre on either side of the major bridges, provision of structures of size 5X3.5M at 25 locations," read the statement.