The government reviewed various infrastructure projects from the Ministries of Railways, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Civil Aviation to enhance logistics efficiency and bring socio-economic benefits to project areas. The Network Planning Group’s 109th meeting, held at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, focused on evaluating these projects. Emphasizing multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency, the assessment aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.
The evaluation included two rail projects, one Metro project, and an airport project, assessing their compliance with integrated multimodal infrastructure principles. The Ministry of Railways proposed a third railway line between Jalandhar Cantt and Jammu Tawi, spanning 210.750 km across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. This project is strategically significant for national security and economic growth, facilitating faster movement of defense personnel and goods.
Additionally, the Ministry proposed another third railway line between Manikpur and Itarsi, covering 518.532 km across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. This initiative aims to enhance operational capacity, improve network resilience, and meet the rising demand for train services. The Ministry of Civil Aviation suggested a Greenfield Airport at Doloo, Silchar in Assam, expected to drive socio-economic development in the region. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs planned an extension of Surat Metro Corridor II to strengthen urban mobility and regional transport networks.
