100th Network Planning Group Meeting Evaluates Key Infrastructure Projects under PM GatiShakti

NEW DELHI: The 100th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan was held on Friday to assess major infrastructure projects aimed at boosting multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency across India. The session, chaired by Shri Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary (Logistics), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), evaluated five key proposals from various ministries.

The NPG reviewed two road and highway projects of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), two rail projects of the Ministry of Railways, and one metro project of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). All five were examined for alignment with PM GatiShakti’s objectives of integrated infrastructure, last-mile connectivity, and a ‘Whole of Government’ approach.

Among the railway projects, the Ministry of Railways proposed a 65-km quadrupling between Hosapete and Ballari in Karnataka, aimed at decongesting a heavily industrialised corridor and improving freight capacity in the state’s mining and steel hub. Another proposal sought the doubling of the Gondia-Jabalpur rail line spanning Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to ease congestion, improve freight movement, and connect key industrial and agricultural zones in central India.

Under MoRTH, two major projects were discussed. The widening of the Mahwa-Mandawar section of NH-921 in Rajasthan seeks to enhance connectivity between Rajasthan, Delhi NCR, and Haryana, improving logistics, road safety, and regional trade. The construction of a six-lane elevated road with six lanes at grade between Anisabad and Deedarganj in Bihar aims to reduce congestion in Patna’s metropolitan region and support regional trade and logistics corridors.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs presented the Jaipur Metro Phase 2 project, covering 42.8 km from Prahladpura to Todi Mod with 36 stations. The line will integrate with Jaipur’s existing East-West corridor and improve connectivity to industrial, residential, and institutional hubs while reducing pollution and traffic congestion.

All projects are expected to deliver significant socio-economic benefits, including reduced travel time, better logistics efficiency, enhanced regional trade, and inclusive growth. The meeting underscored PM GatiShakti’s vision of synchronising infrastructure planning across ministries to create a robust, future-ready multimodal transport network.