NPG evaluates Metro, RRTS, Road and Airport Projects

The 87th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) evaluated five projects (1 Metro, 1 RRTS, 2 Road, and 1 Airport) for their conformity to the PM GatiShakti principles of integrated multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity to economic and social nodes and intermodal coordination. These initiatives are expected to boost logistical efficiency, reduce travel times, and deliver significant socio-economic benefits across regions.

The meeting chaired by Shri E. Srinivas, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), was convened to evaluate infrastructure projects in the Metro, RRTS, Road, and Airport sectors and focused on enhancing multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency in alignment with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP).

The evaluation and anticipated impacts of these projects are detailed below:

Delhi – Panipat – Karnal Namo Bharat Project (RRTS Corridor)

The Delhi – Panipat – Karnal Namo Bharat Project, proposed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and implemented by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), is a greenfield initiative spanning approximately 136.30 km between Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi and Karnal in Haryana. The corridor is designed to operate at an average speed of 90 kmph, offering a significantly faster transit option compared to the existing modes of transport. The project is expected to reduce travel time from the current 3.5–4 hours to approximately 90 minutes, thereby enhancing connectivity between Delhi and key centers in Haryana.

It is designed to be interoperable with other Namo Bharat corridors, ensuring seamless multimodal integration at key hubs such as the common Namo Bharat station at Sarai Kale Khan. In addition, the project will integrate multiple modes of transport by linking with major railway, metro, bus, and airport networks, providing seamless connectivity to people.

Pune Metro Line 4: Kharadi – Khadakwasla with spur line of Nal Stop – Warje – Manik Baug

The Pune Metro Line 4: Kharadi - Hadapsar – Swargate – Khadakwasla, with a spur line from Nal Stop – Warje – Manik Baug is proposed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and implemented by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., the project spans approximately 31.64 km. Currently at the DPR stage, the integrated design, which includes interchanges with operational and proposed metro lines as well as feeder routes, is anticipated to boost overall ridership and facilitate seamless multimodal connectivity.

Mahabubnagar Economic Corridor

The "Development of Four Laning of Gudebellur – Marikal – Hasnapur/Potulamadugu section of NH-167" is a brownfield highway project under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, executed by the National Highways Authority of India. Located in Telangana’s Narayanpet and Mahabubnagar districts, the project aims to upgrade and realign the existing NH-167 corridor—including bypasses around major towns—to a four-lane configuration over a design length of 90.37 km. As a key component of the Hyderabad–Panaji Economic Corridor, this initiative will improve inter-state connectivity between Hyderabad and Raichur.

Mungiakami-Champaknagar (NH-08 corridor)

The project, proposed by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and implemented by the National Highways Infrastructure & Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), aims to improve and widen the existing NH-08 corridor from Mungiakami to Champaknagar in Tripura. Covering a design length of 25.45 km, the project involves upgrading the current road into a four-lane highway with necessary bypasses and realignments to decongest built-up areas. The project is expected to enhance connectivity across West Tripura and Khowai districts, thereby integrating key economic and social nodes and supporting regional inter-state connectivity.

Development of “Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham” (Phase-II)

The Phase-II expansion of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya, aims to meet the growing demand for air travel in the region. The existing terminal has a capacity of 674 passengers during peak hours and an annual capacity of 1 million. To address the anticipated surge in passenger traffic, a new Integrated Terminal Building will be constructed. The new terminal will be designed to handle 4,000 peak hour passengers and accommodate 6 million passengers annually, by 2046-47. The project also includes strengthening and extending the runway, constructing additional parking bays, a multi-level car park, fire station, ATC tower and improved city-side access.

Integrated multimodal infrastructure review secures corridor alignment and interchange integration to improve regional connectivity and logistics. Evaluation under the PM GatiShakti framework focused on conformity of selected transport projects to integrated multimodal infrastructure principles, requiring alignment with designated corridors, intermodal interfaces, and last mile connectivity. The appraisal emphasized interoperability and node integration across an RRTS corridor, a metro extension, highway upgrades and an airport expansion, assessing interchange designs, feeder-route links, realignments, and capacity augmentation to enable seamless transfers and improved regional logistics performance.