Network Planning Group evaluates roads, rail, and metro projects

Hyderabad: The 65th Meeting of Network Planning Group (NPG) convened under the aegis of PM GatiShakti, assessing five crucial infrastructure projects encompassing road, rail, and urban transit initiatives. Led by Rajeev Singh Thakur, Additional Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the meeting in New Delhi scrutinized projects from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Ministry of Railways (MoR), and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), aligning them with the integrated planning principles of PM GatiShakti.

The NPG deliberated upon the projects by the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), focusing on enhancing connectivity across economic and social nodes while emphasizing multi-modal infrastructure development. The evaluated projects include:

1. MoRTH's highway projects in Goa, Meghalaya, and Assam, are aimed at enhancing logistics efficiency, reducing traffic congestion, and improving average traffic speed.

2. MoR's railway project for constructing a Rail-Over-Rail bulb line in Bihar, facilitating grade separation, reduced transit time, and enhanced logistics efficiency.

3. MoHUA's urban metro transit projects in Bangalore and Delhi/NCR, fostering multi-modal integration, decongestion of roads, travel time savings, and environmental benefits.

The NPG underscored the necessity for adequate transition infrastructure, particularly in inter-modal interfaces. Emphasizing the pivotal role of these projects in national development, the meeting highlighted their potential to deliver significant socio-economic advantages and contribute to regional progress.