Network Planning Group assesses key projects based on PM Gati Shakti principles
The 65th meeting of Network Planning Group (NPG) was held in New Delhi last week, under the chairpersonship of Additional Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Mr Rajeev Singh Thakur, to evaluate a few road, rail and urban transit projects of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Ministry of Railways (MoR) and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The NPG examined the projects from the perspective of integrated planning based on the PM Gati Shakti principles. The project details were examined based on the planning/mapping of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP). The key outcomes of the evaluation exercise were discussed with the objective of improving connectivity with various economic/social nodes and multimodal infrastructure. The projects discussed are summarised below:
* MoRTH: Highway projects in Goa, Meghalaya and Assam
The projects of MoRTH pertain to four-laning of 45 km stretch of NH-66 in Goa and development-cum-upgradation of Mawlyngkhung-Panchgram road from 2-lane to 4-lane in Meghalaya and Assam including greenfield stretch of 118 km and brownfield stretch of 43 km. Both the projects will have wider economic impact including reduction in logistics cost, reduction in traffic congestion, and increase in average speed of traffic.
* MoR: Construction of rail-over-rail bulb line in Bihar
A Railways project for the construction of a bulb line at Nabinagar (Ankorha), of approx. 17.49 km in Aurangabad district of Bihar, was examined. The construction of the ROR bulb line would result in grade separation of two railway lines, leading to reduced detention of trains, decline in transit time, increase in logistics efficiency of coal movement to Nabinagar power plant in the vicinity, and enhanced section capacity utilisation of main lines.
* MoHUA: Urban metro transit projects in Bangalore and Delhi/NCR
The two urban transit metro corridor projects of MoHUA were discussed, including Rithala-Bawana-Narela–Kundli (Haryana) Metro Corridor of DMRC in the NCR region, and Phase-3 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project of 44.65 km with 2 corridors from JP Nagar to Kempapura along ORR and Hosahalli to Kadabagere along Magadi road. Both the projects will result in multimodal integration of metro with bus and rail stations, decongestion of roads, travel time savings, fuel cost savings, reliable operation and performance, and reduction in vehicular emission and pollution. NPG suggested that the project proponents plan for adequate transition infrastructure where intermodal interface is involved.
It was emphasised during the meeting that these projects will play a pivotal role in nation-building by integrating various modes of transport, offer substantial socio-economic benefits, and will contribute to the overall development of the regions, said a release.
Source: Exim News Service: New Delhi, Feb. 11