The 100th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under PM GatiShakti was held on 17 October to evaluate infrastructure proposals from various ministries, focusing on multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP).
Chaired by Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Logistics (DPIIT), the session assessed five projects, two each from the Ministry of Railways (MoR) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and one from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), ensuring alignment with GatiShakti principles such as integrated planning, last-mile connectivity, and inter-ministerial coordination.
Railway Projects
1. Quadrupling Hosapete–Ballari Line (Karnataka)
The Rail Ministry proposed a 65-km quadruple line between Hosapete and Ballari, a key industrial and mineral-rich belt. This corridor, vital for transporting iron ore, coal, steel, and cement, is currently operating near capacity. The expansion aims to decongest routes, improve freight handling, and support economic growth in the region, which hosts major steel and power industries.
2. Doubling Gondia–Jabalpur Line (Maharashtra–Madhya Pradesh)
The 230.5-km doubling project will enhance a critical eastern–central India rail link across five districts: Gondia (Maharashtra) and Balaghat, Mandla, Seoni, and Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). The single-line section frequently faces delays affecting coal, cement, and steel transport. Doubling is expected to increase freight capacity, reduce turnaround times, and strengthen regional trade and logistics connectivity.
Road and Highway Projects
3. Mahwa–Mandawar NH-921 Widening (Rajasthan)
MoRTH has proposed upgrading the 50.2-km Mahwa–Mandawar section of NH-921 to improve connectivity between Rajasthan, Delhi NCR, and Haryana. The enhanced highway will reduce travel time, ease congestion, improve safety, lower logistics costs, and boost trade efficiency for regional businesses and industries.
4. Six-Lane Elevated Corridor Anisabad–Deedargunj (Bihar)
A 13.37-km six-lane elevated corridor with service roads is planned in Patna to address urban congestion. The design includes four light vehicular underpasses, 91 redesigned intersections, and eight grade separators. This project will improve traffic flow, enhance safety, reduce bottlenecks, and connect Patna’s economic zones with wider state and national networks.
Urban Transport Project
5. Jaipur Metro Phase 2: Prahladpura–Todi Mod Corridor (Rajasthan)
The 42.8-km North–South Jaipur Metro corridor will feature 36 stations (34 elevated, 2 underground) and link hubs like Sitapura Industrial Area, SMS Hospital, and Vidhyadhar Nagar. Connecting with the existing East–West line at Chandpole, the project aims to reduce traffic congestion, lower fuel consumption, cut pollution, and promote transit-oriented development (TOD) across Jaipur’s growth zones.
