DPIIT assesses infrastructure projects of Railways, MoRTH and MoHUA to boost Gati Shakti scheme

NEW DELHI : The 72nd meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) reviewed three major infrastructure projects under the Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), a national master plan for multi-modal connectivity. which brings together 16 ministries, including railways and roads, for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.

The meeting, chaired by Additional Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Rajeev Singh Thakur, was held in New Delhi on June 12, 2024.

These infrastructure projects are owned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the Ministry of Railways (MoR) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

The National Highway Project in Jammu and Kashmir involves construction and modernization of a 51 km section of NH-701 from Rafiabad to Chamkot. With both greenfield (14.34 km) and brownfield (36.66 km) developments, the project is expected to cost Rs 1,405 crore.

The improved route will improve connectivity for villages like Kupwara, Chowkibal and Tangdhar, improve logistical support for the armed forces and boost socio-economic conditions by providing better access to healthcare, education and business opportunities, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry added to it. a release.

The second in the order, the Gudur-Renigunta Third Railway Line in Andhra Pradesh, is an 83.17 km line aimed at increasing the capacity of the existing double line.

With an estimated cost of Rs 884 crores, this project will improve passenger and freight traffic efficiency, requiring 36.58 hectares of land.

Infrastructure improvements include new bridges, extensive underpasses and advanced signaling systems, which will significantly boost regional economic activity.

The NPG also reviewed the progress of the Pune Metro Line Extension project in Maharashtra, which will extend 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. The extension on the western side includes an elevated section of 1.12 km from Vanaz to Chandani Chowk, while the extension on the eastern side is 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 and will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,757 crores.

According to the release, the daily passenger count on the line is expected to reach 3.59 lakhs by 2027 and is expected to grow to 9.93 lakhs by 2057. This expansion will connect central Pune to fast-growing suburbs, reducing travel time and traffic congestion. and significantly improving the city’s public transport infrastructure.

The NPG emphasized the socio-economic benefits of the projects during the review meeting. All three infrastructure projects aim to improve connectivity, reduce transit costs and improve efficiency.

Prime Minister Gati Shakti includes the infrastructure plans of various ministries and state governments such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc. Economic zones such as textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defense corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fisheries clusters, agricultural zones to improve connectivity and make Indian companies more competitive.