The Network Planning Group (NPG) under PM GatiShakti at its 45th session has examined and recommended six infrastructure projects. The meeting was chaired by the special secretary, logistics division, department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) and saw active participation of senior officials from key member ministries/departments.

During the meeting six projects viz., one by the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), three by the ministry of railways, and two by the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) were examined by the NPG and recommended. These projects will be developed in tandem with the PM GatiShakti Principles using an integrated and holistic approach. These projects will also provide multimodal connectivity, seamless movement of goods and passengers as well as increase logistics efficiency across the country, the ministry of commerce and industry said in a press release.

The NPG under PM GatiShakti recommended six infra projects that will use an integrated approach to provide multimodal connectivity and increase logistics efficiency across India. Among these projects include one by MNRE, three by railways ministry, and two by MoRTH. The projects will help meet India’s target of 500 GW capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.

A project by the ministry of new and renewable energy was examined by the NPG. The project was for the Inter-State Transmission System for Renewable Energy Projects in Ladakh. This project is an important and one-of-a-kind project. It is a big step towards achieving the government of India’s target of 500 GW capacity from non-fossil fuels by the year 2030.

In his Independence Day speech of 2020, Prime Minister Modi shared the setting up of a 7,500 MW solar park in Ladakh and the transmission project. This project enables evacuation and grid integration of 13 GW RE through a 5 GW transmission system. With a first of its kind system in the world, a transmission utilisation of 76 per cent is expected. This project comprises state-of-the-art VSC based HVDC terminals at Pang (Leh) and Kaithal (Haryana) along with a 350 kV HVDC line. It will create employment opportunities at the local level and lead to overall economic development of Ladakh. It also facilitates in abating CO2 emissions of the order of 26 million tonnes/year. 

The ministry of railways proposed a project for city logistics. The project was for the Kanpur Anwarganj – Mandhana elevated railway track. It is a city-specific project as it will increase line capacity utilisation for railways and improve city logistics in the region. The project  is located in the heart of Kanpur city wherein 16 Level Crossings (LC) are located in a 16 km long stretch with GT road running parallel to this track.

After the construction of this track, rail logistics will improve by 4.2 MTPA. It will improve the container traffic in the region and result in saving of around ₹0.0021 crore worth of fuel and ₹0.0026 crore worth of emissions. The present road traffic will also improve by 25 per cent significantly improving industrial production and consumption. The land released after the dismantling of old tracks will be utilised for an e-bus dedicated corridor and other commercial activities. Moreover, skywalk connectivity through two metro stations will also be provided through this railway track.

Further, a project by the ministry of railways for construction of a rail bridge across river Ganga in connection with the new railway line connecting Vikramshila – Katareah railway station on East central railway in Bihar state was examined by the NPG. The project is about 40 km from Bhagalpur alongside a stream on Ganga. This is a critical infrastructure project as it will provide seamless freight flow movement after completion. This project will provide connectivity to economic nodes of food grains, movement of cement to north Bihar and the northeast region, eastern coal field, increase in stone chips boulders, and other quarry products to five rakes a day.

Another project proposal was examined for the doubling of the Ajmer – Chittaurgarh railway line of 178.28 km. This project will predominantly serve the industrial and tribal belt i.e., Ajmer, Bhilwara, and Chittaurgarh districts of Rajasthan. The region has many religious, tourist, and historic places in the project area, such as Pushkar, Ajmer, Chittaurgarh, and Udaipur. The project section also serves important food grain unloading stations like Ranapratapnagar Fertilisers loading stations viz. Debari (DRB), cement/clinker loading stations, zinc mines, spinning mills, and textile hub and major defence establishment of Nasirabad. By doubling the line, this project will improve 18.95 per cent passengers’ time and save approximately 40-45 mins of travel time. It will provide multimodal connectivity and increase logistics efficiency in the region, added the release.

Additionally, NPG examined two projects by the MoRTH pertaining to construction of four lanes to Bijni to Mandi section including construction of twin tube tunnels of Pathankot – Mandi. It will improve connectivity with Pathankot Cantonment Railway Station and Joginder Nagar Railway Station. It will also connect important towns i.e., Nurpur, Shahpur, Dharamshala, Kangra, Palampur, Baijnath, and Mandi. This project will increase the freight volume on the Greenfield corridor by increasing economic activities in the region. It will improve rail connectivity (including Dedicated Freight Corridors), airports, MMLPs, and ropeways. The project will provide multimodal connectivity to five unique nodes under PM GatiShakti NMP Principles viz., pharma and medical centre, SEZ, industrial parks, and textiles clusters.

The second project proposed by MoRTH was the construction of four lanes of Belgaum – Hungsund – Raichur, as a part of the Panaji – Hyderabad Economic Corridor. This economic corridor will enable seamless connectivity between Bharatmala Economic Centres of Southern States of India, Karnataka, Goa, Telangana via high-speed NHs and EXPs of Karnataka and Bhanapur – Gadenkeri. It will improve multi-modal connectivity with six major railway stations namely, Goa, Belgavi, Bagalkot, Raichur, Mahabubnagar, and Hyderabad, three airports viz Goa, Belgavi, and Hyderabad, and over 20 tourist places. This project is important as it will help in implementing the vision of Amrit Kaal by connecting six districts and six PM GatiShakti economic nodes.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)