Bhandara Bypass Road is a major six-lane greenfield highway around Bhandara city in Maharashtra. It forms part of NH-53, the important Nagpur-Raipur-Kolkata corridor, and was developed to divert heavy intercity and freight traffic away from the older two-lane road through Bhandara. The completed bypass extends for about 14.8 km from km 485.000 to km 499.800 of NH-53.
The bypass was inaugurated on July 5, 2025. It was built with partial access control, service roads, flyovers, underpasses and a major new bridge across the Wainganga River. The project has changed through traffic around Bhandara substantially, while local access remains available through junctions, service roads and city-entry points such as Kardha and Ashok Nagar.
Quick About Bhandara Bypass Road
| Particular | Details |
| Location | Bhandara, Maharashtra |
| Main Highway | NH-53, old NH-6 |
| Bypass Length | 14.8 km |
| Road Type | Six-lane greenfield, partially access-controlled bypass |
| Project Chainage | Km 485.000 to km 499.800 |
| Project Cost | About ₹735 crore |
| Opened | July 5, 2025 |
| Main Directions | Nagpur and Raipur/Kolkata |
| Important Junctions | Kardha and Ashok Nagar |
| Major Bridge | New six-lane bridge across the Wainganga River |
| Nearest Railway Station | Bhandara Road/Warthi area |
| Nearest Major Airport | Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur |
| Relevant Toll Point | Kardha Toll Plaza on NH-53 |
Where Is Bhandara Bypass Road Located?
Bhandara Bypass runs outside the main built-up part of Bhandara on NH-53. The official NHAI project covers the 14.8 km section between km 485.000 and km 499.800. It was planned as a greenfield route so long-distance traffic could avoid the older road through the city.
It reconnects with NH-53 on both sides of Bhandara for Nagpur- and Raipur-bound traffic.
Connectivity of Bhandara Bypass Road
The bypass carries Nagpur-Raipur-Kolkata through traffic around Bhandara, including buses, cars and heavy freight vehicles.
Local access is provided through junctions and service roads; city-bound drivers should use the correct interchange.
Nagpur Connectivity
Westbound NH-53 connects Bhandara with Mauda and Nagpur. The Bhandara district administration gives the Bhandara-Nagpur road distance at about 60 km. For travellers heading to Nagpur, the bypass provides a direct route without passing through the central Bhandara streets.
Nagpur is also the main regional air and rail hub, so flight passengers should keep extra time for the urban approach.
Raipur and Chhattisgarh Connectivity
Eastbound NH-53 continues from Bhandara towards Sakoli and Gondia-side connections before heading into Chhattisgarh and the Raipur corridor. This direction is particularly important for freight and long-distance buses using the Nagpur-Raipur-Kolkata route.
The bypass was specifically built to remove heavy commercial traffic from Bhandara city. Drivers continuing towards Raipur can remain on NH-53 unless they need a local Bhandara destination.
Wainganga River Bridge
One of the most important parts of the project is the new six-lane bridge across the Wainganga River. The government described the main Wainganga bridge at about 700 metres. The new crossing removes a major bottleneck that earlier affected traffic entering and leaving Bhandara.
Drivers should not stop on the bridge carriageway for roadside pickups.
Kardha and Ashok Nagar Junctions
Kardha and Ashok Nagar are important bypass junctions. The project includes flyovers at both locations to separate highway traffic from local crossing movements.
These junctions provide city access; drivers should use signed ramps and service roads.
Service Roads and Underpasses
The bypass includes extensive service-road infrastructure. Government project details list about 17.46 km of seven-metre-wide service or slip roads on both sides, along with paved drainage.
Seventeen vehicular underpasses help local traffic cross without interrupting the main carriageway.
Wildlife and Safety Features
The bypass alignment passes through a region where wildlife movement had to be considered. Two dedicated wildlife underpasses were provided near Bhilewada, together with chain-link fencing and sound barriers around the wildlife movement area.
The project also addressed earlier accident-prone points near Paladi and Bhilewada.
Bus Boarding and Local Transport
Private bus operators use several Bhandara pickup descriptions. Current booking listings include Bhandara Bypass, Bhandara Bypass End, the Bharat Petrol Pump/Bhushan Travels area and other points near the main highway.
Check the operator’s live pin and the Nagpur- or Raipur-bound side before reaching the highway.
Railway Connectivity
Bhandara district administration directs rail travellers through the Warthi/Bhandara Road station area on the Nagpur side. This is the main local rail reference for Bhandara.
Allow road-transfer time between the bypass and the railway station.
Airport Connectivity
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur is the nearest major airport. The Bhandara district administration places it at about 65 km from Bhandara.
For the airport, travel west on NH-53 towards Nagpur and allow extra time for city traffic.
Nearby Areas Around Bhandara Bypass
Important bypass-side references include Kardha, Ashok Nagar, Bhilewada, Paladi, Pimpri, Salebardi, Khapa and Mujbi. Several of these locations also have bus bays or local access infrastructure associated with the project.
Central Bhandara is reached through designated city-entry connections.
Shops and Daily Facilities
Fuel stations, restaurants, travel offices and vehicle services are available around the highway approaches and city-entry points. Central Bhandara provides a wider range of hospitals, pharmacies, banks, markets and daily-use services.
Use service roads or designated areas for stopping.
Traffic Conditions on Bhandara Bypass
The bypass has significantly reduced the amount of heavy through traffic using the older road through Bhandara city. Government project data used a traffic figure of about 28,564 passenger car units for the corridor.
Drivers should remain alert near flyovers, merges, bus bays and service-road access points and follow posted limits.
Toll Information
Kardha Toll Plaza is an established NH-53 toll point on the Bhandara stretch. NHAI toll records identify the plaza around chainage 489.400 of the Nagpur-Raipur section.
Toll rates are revised periodically, so travellers should check the latest FASTag/NHAI rate before a longer highway journey rather than relying on an old fare table. A short city trip and a longer tolled NH-53 journey may not have the same toll implication.
Nagpur-Bhandara and Bhandara-Raipur Highway Expansion
The wider corridor remains a priority for capacity improvement. In May 2026, the Union road ministry reviewed proposed six-laning of both the Nagpur-Bhandara and Bhandara-Raipur sections.
These proposals are separate from the already operational 14.8 km Bhandara Bypass.
Conclusion
Bhandara Bypass Road is a 14.8 km six-lane NH-53 route carrying through traffic around Bhandara city. Opened in July 2025, it includes the new Wainganga River bridge, flyovers at Kardha and Ashok Nagar, service roads and underpasses. Bhandara Road/Warthi is the main local rail reference and Nagpur Airport is the nearest major airport. Bus passengers should use the exact bypass landmark rather than treating the whole corridor as one pickup point.
FAQs About Bhandara Bypass Road
Q1. Is Bhandara Bypass open for normal traffic?
Yes. The 14.8 km six-lane bypass was inaugurated on July 5, 2025 and is operational on NH-53.
Q2. Which route should I use from Bhandara to Nagpur?
Use the westbound NH-53 direction from the bypass towards Mauda and Nagpur. If starting inside Bhandara city, join the bypass through the most suitable signed access point.
Q3. Which direction should I take for Raipur?
Use the eastbound NH-53 direction. Through vehicles can remain on the bypass instead of entering central Bhandara.
Q4. My bus ticket says Bhandara Bypass. Where should I wait?
Check the exact operator landmark. Current listings use Bhandara Bypass, Bypass End and the Bharat Petrol Pump/Bhushan Travels area, so a generic bypass label is not precise enough.
Q5. Is there a toll on Bhandara Bypass?
Kardha Toll Plaza operates on the NH-53 Bhandara stretch. Whether a particular journey attracts toll depends on the route used, so check the latest NHAI/FASTag information.
Q6. Does the bypass cross the Wainganga River?
Yes. The project includes a new six-lane Wainganga River bridge of about 700 metres, which removed an important old bottleneck.
Q7. Which railway station is practical from Bhandara Bypass?
The Bhandara Road/Warthi station area is the main local rail reference. Allow transfer time from the bypass because it is not a highway-side station.
Q8. Is another new Bhandara bypass being built?
No second bypass is currently being described in the 2026 highway review; it concerns wider six-laning of the approaches.
