NPG’s 98th Meeting Advances Seven Strategic Infrastructure Projects under PM GatiShakti

At its 98th session, the Network Planning Group (NPG) undertook a comprehensive evaluation of seven pivotal infrastructure projects across railways, roads, logistics and textiles, aligning them with the PM GatiShakti framework for integrated multimodal planning.

On the rail front, three key expansions were assessed: the addition of third and fourth lines on the Bakhtiyarpur–Fatuha corridor (24.156 km) in Bihar; a fourth line between Tambaram and Chengalpattu in Tamil Nadu; and another fourth line between Dongargarh and Gondia, spanning 84.10 km through Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. These projects aim to enhance freight and passenger capacity, reduce congestion and boost regional economic linkages; upgrades to station amenities and improved accessibility were also recommended.

On roads and logistics, the group reviewed a 54.2 km widening of NH–39 in Madhya Pradesh to enhance freight connectivity and a massive (315-acre) Multi‑Modal Logistics Park in Telangana designed to handle up to 1.47 million metric tonnes annually (with potential to scale to nearly 20 MMT).

Lastly, two PM‑MITRA textile parks were greenlighted: one in Madhya Pradesh within the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor and another in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu (1,052 acres), aimed at providing end‑to‑end textile infrastructure, spurring job creation and global competitiveness.

Chaired by DPIIT Joint Secretary (Logistics) Shri Pankaj Kumar, the meeting underscored a whole‑of‑government approach to boost infrastructure synergy and socio‑economic impact.