The Network Planning Group (NPG), in its 89th meeting, reviewed eight major infrastructure projects in the road, railway, and metro sectors to enhance multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced on Friday that these projects aim to improve transport networks, reduce travel time, and drive economic growth across various regions. In the road sector, four projects were evaluated. The first involves upgrading the 136.11 km Darugiri-Dalu stretch of NH-62 (New NH-217) in Meghalaya to a two-lane highway, improving connectivity across East, South, and West Garo Hills and boosting cross-border trade. The second project is India’s first road tunnel under a major river, a four-lane tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra, connecting Gohpur and Numaligarh. This will cut travel time from 6.5 hours to just 30 minutes and reduce the journey distance from 240 km to 34 km, enhancing connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. The third project focuses on widening the Kaliabor-Numaligarh highway in Assam to four lanes, spanning 85.67 km and incorporating wildlife-friendly infrastructure near Kaziranga National Park. The fourth initiative is a two-lane highway from Mayjilar to Jaisalmer, including a bypass for Jaisalmer, covering 138.177 km. This project is expected to improve regional connectivity, boost tourism, support defence movement, and enhance road safety in Rajasthan. In the railway sector, three projects were assessed. The first involves expanding the third and fourth rail lines on the 32.46 km Badlapur-Karjat route to ease congestion on the busy Mumbai-Pune-Solapur-Wadi-Chennai corridor. The second project will add a fourth rail line between Nergundi and Cuttack in Odisha, along with a flyover at Nergundi, to streamline freight transport for Paradip Port and Talcher coalfields. The third project will build a 74.09 km double rail line from Haridaspur to Paradip, boosting coal transportation and industrial logistics in Odisha’s Angul-Jharsuguda region. The Rajkot Metro Rail Project was also reviewed. Spanning 41.11 km, this greenfield initiative in Gujarat aims to decongest urban traffic and integrate seamlessly with regional rail, bus, and public transport networks. These fast-tracked projects are set to enhance connectivity, economic development, and logistical efficiency across key regions, aligning with India’s long-term infrastructure vision. (English Matrubhoomi)