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New delhi: Yesterday, the 74th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under PM GatiShakti was held in New Delhi, chaired by Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur, Additional Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The meeting evaluated five significant infrastructure projects from the Ministry of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for their alignment with the principles of integrated planning outlined in the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP).
Infrastructure Projects Evaluated by NPG
| Project | Description | Cost (INR Crores) | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balaram – Tentuloi New Railway Line (MCRL Phase II) in Odisha | 49.58 km rail line providing first-mile rail connectivity for 11 coal blocks in Angul district. | 1,404 | Reduces logistics costs, generates employment, enhances coal transport efficiency, benefits local economy and industrial landscape. |
| Budhapank – Luburi New Railway Line (MCRL Outer Corridor) in Odisha | 106 km rail line supporting efficient coal evacuation from the Mahanadi River Basin. | 3,478 | Facilitates coal transportation from Talcher Coal Fields, reduces average distance to railhead, enhances logistical efficiency, reduces costs for core industries. |
| Lucknow Metro Rail Project Phase I-B East - West Corridor (Charbagh to Vasant Kunj) in Uttar Pradesh | 11.165 km extension of Lucknow Metro corridor to address growing transportation needs. | 5,801 | Caters to additional 200,000 passengers per day, reduces congestion and pollution, enhances public transport accessibility, uses renewable energy. |
| Upgradation of existing 6 Lane Road including elevated corridor of NH-47 (Narol Jn. to Sarkhej Jn.) in Gujarat | Upgrading a 10.63 km section of NH-47 to address traffic congestion in southern Ahmedabad. | 1,295 | Enhances traffic flow, improves service levels, facilitates efficient movement of goods and people, contributes to economic vitality. |
| 4-laning of Section of NH-166 from Chokak to Sangli (Ankali) in Maharashtra | Four-laning a 33.6 km section of NH-166 to enhance connectivity between Kolhapur and Sangli. | 864 | Reduces travel time by 50%, reduces distance by 5.4 km, saves fuel and time, helps control pollution from vehicle emissions. |
Balaram – Tentuloi New Railway Line (MCRL Phase II) in Odisha
This greenfield project entails constructing a 49.58 km rail line in Angul district at an estimated cost of INR 1,404 Crores. It aims to provide vital first-mile rail connectivity for 11 coal blocks, reducing logistics costs for industries and generating employment, thus contributing to regional development. The project is expected to significantly enhance coal transport efficiency, benefiting both the local economy and the broader industrial landscape of Odisha.
Budhapank – Luburi New Railway Line (MCRL Outer Corridor) in Odisha
This project involves a 106-kilometre greenfield rail line at an estimated cost of INR 3,478 Crores to support efficient coal evacuation from the Mahanadi River Basin. The proposed alignment will facilitate the transportation of coal from Talcher Coal Fields, providing first-mile rail connectivity to 21 coal blocks. It aims to reduce the average distance to the railhead from 43 km to 4.2 km, enhancing logistical efficiency and reducing costs for core industries like iron and steel.
Lucknow Metro Rail Project Phase I-B East - West Corridor (Charbagh to Vasant Kunj) in Uttar Pradesh
This project proposes extending the Lucknow Metro corridor by 11.165 kilometres to address the city's growing transportation needs. The current metro line caters to 80,000 passengers per day (PPD), and the new line is expected to serve an additional 200,000 PPD. This new corridor will serve the city’s densely settled central business districts (CBDs), including Aminabad, Alambagh, Faizabad, and Charbagh. The stations will be strategically located to seamlessly connect interchange points through foot overbridges (FoBs) and underpasses. The project, costing INR 5,801 Crores, aims to reduce congestion and vehicular pollution while enhancing public transport accessibility through an integrated network. The development plan also emphasises the use of renewable energy through rooftop installations to reduce conventional energy consumption.
Upgradation of existing 6 Lane Road including elevated corridor of NH-47 (Narol Jn. to Sarkhej Jn.) in Gujarat
This brownfield project involves upgrading a 10.63 km section of NH-47 at an estimated cost of INR 1,295 Crores to address increasing traffic congestion in southern Ahmedabad, connecting to major highways and expressways. The project aims to enhance smooth and safe traffic flow, thus improving service levels. Upgrading this critical segment of NH-47 is expected to facilitate more efficient movement of goods and people, contributing to the region's economic vitality.
4-laning of Section of NH-166 from Chokak to Sangli (Ankali) in Maharashtra
This project involves four-laning a 33.6 km section of NH-166, enhancing connectivity between Kolhapur and Sangli in Maharashtra, at an estimated cost of INR 864 Crores. The development will reduce travel time by 50% and the distance by about 5.4 km, significantly impacting environmental attributes. Improving this road will save fuel and time and help control pollution from vehicle emissions.
The Network Planning Group (NPG) evaluated all the projects based on the principles of PM GatiShakti: integrated development of multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity to economic and social nodes, intermodal connectivity, and synchronised project implementation. These projects are expected to play pivotal roles in nation-building, integrating various modes of transport, and providing substantial socio-economic benefits and ease of living, thereby contributing to the overall development of the regions.