63rd Network Planning Group Meeting Reviews Infrastructure Projects Worth Rs 5,100 Crore
New Delhi, January 6, 2024: The 63rd Network Planning Group (NPG) meeting, chaired by Special Secretary (Logistics), DPIIT, Smt. Sumita Dawra, convened on January 4, 2023, at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The meeting focused on evaluating three significant projects, including roadways and railway initiatives with a combined estimated cost of over Rs. 5,000 Crore.
Key Ministries and Departments, such as the 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 New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Ministry of Power (MoP), Ministry of Defence, and NITI Aayog actively participated in the discussions.
The projects discussed included a new railway line passing through Odisha and Chhattisgarh, aiming to facilitate coal transportation from mines to industries and thermal power plants in the Northern/Western part of the country. This initiative aligns with the GatiShakti planning initiative, emphasizing multimodal connectivity and strategically bypassing congested areas.
The Mirzapur-Ayodhya Corridor, focusing on constructing bypass roads for two vital cities, was also examined. Anticipated benefits include improved logistics efficiency, reduced travel time, and enhanced connectivity to the Varanasi Multi-Modal Terminal, promoting environmentally friendly inland waterway transportation.
Additionally, the meeting discussed the development of a Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Andhra Pradesh, poised to boost logistics efficiency by serving as a hub for industrial clusters. Special Secretary Dawra stressed the socio-economic benefits of these projects, emphasizing regional development, job opportunities, and improved connectivity.
Furthermore, she urged Ministries to incorporate the Area Development Planning Approach in project planning and coordinate with local authorities for integrated planning. The benefits of using the PM GatiShakti NMP portal for project planning were also highlighted during the meeting.
