64th Network Planning Group (NPG) Meeting under PM GatiShakti Discussed three proposed Infrastructure Projects and Rail Sagar Corridor Program.
64th Network Planning Group (NPG) Meeting under PM GatiShakti Discussed three proposed Infrastructure Projects and Rail Sagar Corridor Program.
The 64th Network Planning Group (NPG) meeting was convened on January 23 2024, under the chairpersonship of Ms. Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary, Logistics at Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM), Secunderabad.
The meeting witnessed active participation from key Infrastructure Ministries and Departments including Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Ministry of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Power (MoP), Ministry of Defence (MoD), NITI Aayog and representatives from South Central Railway (SCR).
During the meeting, the Network Planning Group (NPG) discussed three proposed Greenfield projects of Ministry of Railways (1) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (2), with an aggregate project cost worth about INR 9600 Cr. The projects discussed are summarized below:
1. Proposed New BG line between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States
The proposed project of MoR includes a broad-gauge line between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states to integrate new commercial and tourist areas. This project aims to enhance multimodal connectivity, increase capacity for both freight and passenger trains, and provide faster rail connectivity between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In addition, the project will increase employment, and tourism, and will reduce traffic congestion at major junctions. Area Development Approach has been integrated into project planning for enhancing last-mile connectivity, duly taking into account synergies with ports of Andhra Pradesh.
2. Proposed Construction of a New Region Ring Road under Bharatmala Pariyojana
The proposed construction of a New Region Ring Road (RRR) in Odisha was also evaluated by NPG Members. This project of MoRTH aims to smoothen the movement of freight between Chennai and Kolkata. It aims to provide multimodal connectivity to economic nodes such as economic corridors, industrial parks, mineral and mining zones, good sheds, etc. as well as logistics and social nodes. It bypasses major towns in Odisha, avoiding traffic congestion in the cities and enhance logistics efficiency by reducing travel time by 37.5%.