The 95th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG), chaired by DPIIT Joint Secretary Pankaj Kumar, was held on 13 June to evaluate five key infrastructure proposals across metro rail, highways, and logistics. The review was conducted under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan to enhance multimodal connectivity and improve logistics efficiency.

Proposals from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) were reviewed. These included the Ahmedabad Metro Phase-2A extension, two major highway projects, and two Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs).

The proposed Ahmedabad Metro Rail Phase-2A aims to extend the line by 6.032 km, connecting Koteshwar Metro Station to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The extension is expected to improve urban mobility, reduce travel time, ease congestion, and offer better public transport access for commuters and airport staff.

MoRTH also presented plans for an eight-lane access-controlled highway along NH-248S to improve connectivity to the upcoming Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra. The new highway will link the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway and NH-48, facilitating efficient cargo movement and supporting the port’s development as a major global trade hub.

Vadhavan Port, with a natural draft of about 20 metres, is designed to handle large container vessels. Phase 1 will offer a container handling capacity of 15 million TEUs, with an expansion to 23.2 million TEUs planned in Phase 2. Upon completion, the port is expected to rank among the top ten container ports globally.

Traffic projections estimate that the proposed access road to the port will carry over 57,000 passenger car units daily by 2030.

News source: Swarajya