August 24, 2023: The 54th Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM Gati Shakti Mission during a meeting on August 23 assessed four infrastructure projects worth Rs 7, 693.17 crore. Among these four projects, two projects are of the road transport ministry while the remaining two projects of the railways ministry.
During the meeting chaired by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) meeting chaired by special secretary-logistics Sumita Dawra stressed upon the importance of utilising the GatiShakti National Master Plan portal and adopting the ‘whole of government’ approach for infrastructure planning and execution. She emphasised on the critical importance of the projects in terms of connectivity to economic and social nodes of the area and accentuated on following an area-development approach. Representatives from the road transport ministry, the rilways ministry, the shipping ministry, the oil ministry and the power ministry were also present in the meeting.
Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road
The NPG examined the four-lane Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road (ORR) under the Bharatmala Pariyojana in Kerala worth Rs 4,767.20 Crore. This project corridor is a part of the Mumbai-Kanyakumari Economic Corridor. The project is essential to provide smooth and faster connectivity to the eastern region from the northern region and will boost the economic growth in economically backward regions. The project will reduce travel time, save vehicle operation cost and will provide last-mile connectivity to the new international seaport in Vizhinjam.
Dahod-Bodeli-Vapi Corridor
The Dahod-Bodeli-Vapi Corridor with a project outlay of Rs 1,179.33 crore was also assessed by the NPG. The project road starts at the junction of the new Vadodara-Delhi Expressway and ends at the Mumbai-Vadodara expressway. It forms an important connectivity with Bodeli, Devaliya, Rajpipla, Netrang, Vyara, Dharampur, Vapi and further Southwards to Mumbai via the under-construction Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. The project will improve road network, benefiting the local people by reducing travel time, travel distance as well as transportation cost. It will also boost socio-economic development and tourism along the project road.
Broad gauge railway Line between Pushkar-Merta in Rajasthan
The NPG also deliberated on a new broad gauge railway Line between Pushkar-Merta in Rajasthan with a project cost of Rs 799.64 crore. The proposed new line will provide direct connectivity from Central India to northern India as well as to the western border. It will also decongest and reduce pressure on highways.
Broad-gauge line between Merta City-Ras railway stations
Another rail project in Rajasthan, a new broad-gauge line between Merta City-Ras railway stations worth Rs 947 crore was assessed by the NPG. The project holds significant importance in facilitating quicker movement of goods and promoting industrial and overall development in the region encompassing Pali and Nagaur districts of Rajasthan.
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