The Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) for multi-modal connectivity, the 72nd meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) reviewed three major infrastructure projects. This national master plan, which integrates the efforts of 16 ministries including railways and roads, aims to ensure cohesive planning and coordinated execution of infrastructure connectivity projects.
The meeting, chaired by Rajeev Singh Thakur, Additional Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), was convened in New Delhi on June 12, 2024. The infrastructure projects under review are spearheaded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the Ministry of Railways (MoR), and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
One of the key projects evaluated is the National Highway Project in Jammu and Kashmir. This project involves the construction and modernisation of a 51 km stretch of NH-701 from Rafiabad to Chamkot. Incorporating both greenfield (14.34 km) and brownfield (36.66 km) developments, the project is estimated to cost Rs 1,405 crore. The upgraded route is anticipated to enhance connectivity for villages such as Kupwara, Chowkibal, and Tangdhar, improve logistical support for the armed forces, and elevate socio-economic conditions by facilitating better access to healthcare, education, and business opportunities.
The second project reviewed is the Gudur-Renigunta Third Railway Line in Andhra Pradesh. Spanning 83.17 km, this line aims to augment the capacity of the existing double line. With an estimated cost of Rs 884 crore, the project will significantly improve the efficiency of passenger and freight traffic, requiring 36.58 hectares of land. Infrastructure enhancements include new bridges, extensive underpasses, and advanced signalling systems, which are expected to substantially boost regional economic activity.
The NPG also assessed the progress of the Pune Metro Line Extension project in Maharashtra. This initiative extends the operational metro corridor from Vanaz to Ramwadi in Pune. The project involves the extension of two lines at the eastern and western ends of the Vanaz-Ramwadi metro corridor. On the western side, it includes an elevated section of 1.12 km from Vanaz to Chandani Chowk, while the eastern extension comprises an elevated section of 11.63 km from Ramwadi to Wagholi/Vitthalwadi. The total length of this elevated metro corridor will be 12.75 km, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,757 crore.
According to projections, the daily passenger count on this line is expected to reach 3.59 lakh by 2027 and grow to 9.93 lakh by 2057. This expansion is set to connect central Pune to rapidly growing suburbs, reducing travel time and traffic congestion, and markedly improving the city’s public transport infrastructure. During the review meeting, the NPG emphasised the socio-economic benefits of these projects. All three initiatives are designed to enhance connectivity, lower transit costs, and improve overall efficiency, thereby contributing significantly to the nation’s infrastructure development goals under the Gati Shakti scheme.
