PM GatiShakti: Road, rail, and urban transit projects are evaluated by NPG.
On June 12, 2024, the Network Planning Group (NPG) held its 72nd meeting in New Delhi. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Additional Secretary, Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur, presided over the meeting. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the Ministry of Railways (MoR), and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) each had three major infrastructure projects that were the subject of the meeting’s evaluation. The projects’ adherence to the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) tenets was assessed. The following are some of the assessments of the projects and their expected effects:
1. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ National Highway Project in Jammu and Kashmir (MoRTH)
The project entails building and modernizing 51 kilometers of NH-701 between Rafiabad and Chamkot. The project is anticipated to cost INR 1,405 crores and involve both brownfield (36.66 km) and greenfield (14.34 km) projects. Villages like Kupwara, Chowkibal, and Tangdhar will have much better connectivity thanks to the enhanced road, which will also improve defense forces’ logistical assistance and improve socioeconomic conditions by giving people better access to commercial, health, and educational possibilities.
2. The Ministry of Railways’ Gudur-Renigunta Third Rail Line in Andhra Pradesh (MoR)
The goal of building a third rail line, spanning 83.17 km, between the Gudur and Renigunta stations in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh is to increase the capacity of the current double line. This project, which is expected to cost INR 884 crores, will increase the efficiency of passenger and cargo movement while requiring 36.58 hectares of land. New bridges, longer underpasses, and sophisticated signaling systems are just a few of the infrastructure improvements that would greatly increase regional economic activity.
3. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Pune Metro Line Extension in Maharashtra (MoHUA)
The operational metro route in Pune is to be extended from Vanaz to Ramwadi as part of the MoHUA project. Two lines on the eastern and western extremities of the Vanaz-Ramwadi metro corridor will be extended as part of the project. A 1.12 kilometer raised stretch connects Vanaz to Chandani Chowk on the western side, and an 11.63 km elevated part connects Ramwadi to Wagholi/Vitthalwadi on the eastern side. This elevated metro route will be 12.75 km long overall and cost approximately INR 3,757 crores to build.
By 2027, the line is expected to have 3.59 lakh daily riders, and by 2057, it is expected to have 9.93 lakh riders. By connecting Pune’s center with its quickly expanding suburbs, this extension will cut down on travel times and traffic jams while also greatly improving the public transportation system in the area.
All projects were assessed for integrated planning and conformity with PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) principles at the meeting. The socioeconomic advantages, better connectivity, lower transit costs, and more efficiency were emphasized. In addition, the programs seek to improve overall transportation and logistics networks by promoting multimodal integration.
The aforementioned projects are anticipated to have a significant impact on nation-building, transportation integration, socio-economic benefits, and general living standards, all of which will contribute to the overall development of the respective regions.
Also see: https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/pm-gati-shakti-national-master-plan-multi-modal-connectivity