MARCH 2: The 88th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG), chaired by Shri E. Srinivas, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), convened today to evaluate infrastructure projects in the Road, Railway, Information Technology, and Metro sectors. The meeting focused on enhancing multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency in alignment with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP).
The NPG evaluated eleven projects (7- Road, 2- Railway, 1- Information Technology, and 1- Metro) for their conformity to the PM GatiShakti principles of integrated multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity to economic and social nodes, and intermodal coordination. These initiatives are expected to boost logistical efficiency, reduce travel times, and deliver significant socio-economic benefits across regions. The evaluation and anticipated impacts of these projects are detailed below:
The 4-Lane NH from Kishanganj-Bahadurganj Road Project is a Greenfield development with an alignment length of 23.649 km in Kishanganj, Bihar. The road will connect NH-27 and NH-327E, enhancing regional mobility, reducing congestion, and improving trade connectivity between Bihar and West Bengal. The project includes flyovers, major bridges, service roads, and underpasses to ensure smooth vehicular movement and improved accessibility.
The Northern Portion of Hyderabad Regional Ring Road Expressway is a Greenfield expressway project under Bharatmala Pariyojana. It aims to develop a 158.64 km long 4-lane access-controlled expressway connecting Girmapur village (on NH-65) in Sangareddy district to Choutuppal (on NH-65) in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, passing through Sangareddy, Medak, Siddipet, and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri districts in Telangana. It is designed to provide a high-speed corridor with grade separators, interchanges. Additionally, it will facilitate better linkages to key economic nodes, including SEZs, mega food parks, pharma hubs, and textile clusters.
The development of the four-lane access-controlled Sirhind-Sehna section of NH-205AG as part of the Mohali-Barnala Inter Corridor Route in Punjab is a key component of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I, providing an alternative to congested urban roadways and linking critical expressways such as the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and the Amritsar-Jamnagar Economic Corridor.
The proposed six-lane connectivity road from Sabbavaram to Sheelanagar Junction in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, under Bharatmala Pariyojana, is designed to ease congestion on NH-16 by providing a dedicated corridor for port-bound traffic, thereby reducing interference with local commuters in Visakhapatnam city. The Greenfield corridor (97%) will ensure efficient cargo evacuation and improve overall logistical operations for Visakhapatnam Port.
The proposed greenfield Jaipur Northern Ring Road project will alleviate traffic congestion in the northwest region of the city by diverting heavy commercial traffic from NH-48 and NH-52. This design incorporates major and minor bridges, toll plazas, and service roads, augmenting connectivity enhancements for both residents and businesses.
The Limbdi-Dhrangadhra section of NH-51 in Gujarat will be upgraded to a two-lane highway with paved shoulders. This Brownfield project with Greenfield bypasses and realignments spans 62.822 km in Surendranagar district and aims to enhance connectivity between the Saurashtra and Kachchh regions. The corridor links key highways, namely Ahmedabad-Viramgam-Maliya (SH-7) and Ahmedabad-Rajkot (NH-47).
The proposed Zirakpur Bypass is a 6-lane highway project that will connect NH-7 (Zirakpur-Patiala) and NH-5 (Zirakpur-Parwanoo), spanning 19.2 km across Punjab and Haryana. The project aims to alleviate heavy congestion in Zirakpur, Panchkula, and surrounding areas. The bypass will include three-level interchanges at both ends, multiple culverts, vehicular overpasses, and underpasses, ensuring smooth traffic flow.
The New Broad Gauge (BG) Line from Bhagalpur to Jamalpur (52.810 km) is a brownfield project. The project aims to enhance railway capacity and connectivity in Bihar’s Bhagalpur and Munger districts. The project will connect Bhagalpur, Sultanganj, and Jamalpur, facilitating efficient freight and passenger movement while reducing congestion on existing railway lines.
The Proposed Doubling of the Aurangabad-Parbhani Railway Line (177.29 km) is a brownfield expansion project. The project aims to decongest the Vijayawada-Balharshah (HDN) and Secunderabad-Mumbai corridors, providing an efficient alternative for freight and passenger movement. The line runs through Aurangabad, Jalna, and Parbhani districts in Maharashtra, benefiting industries, tourism, and trade in the region.
The National Knowledge Network (NKN) Phase-II is an advanced high-speed network initiative by the Government of India, aimed at strengthening the backbone of national research, education, and e-Governance infrastructure. The network facilitates seamless connectivity for research institutions, universities, and government departments, ensuring uninterrupted access to data resources and digital platforms.
The GIFT City Metro Corridor, with a length of 7.585 km, is designed to enhance urban mobility for the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in Gujarat. This will yield significant socio-economic benefits such as reduced travel time, lower fuel consumption, and a substantial drop in vehicular emissions and accidents.
, chaired by Shri E. Srinivas, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), convened today to evaluate infrastructure projects in the Road, Railway, Information Technology, and Metro sectors-Views Today){kind=link}