The 109th meeting of the Network Planning Group was convened to assess major infrastructure proposals in the rail, metro and civil aviation sectors under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.
The meeting reviewed projects from the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The proposals were evaluated based on their alignment with the core principles of PM GatiShakti, including integrated multimodal connectivity, enhanced logistics efficiency, last mile access to economic and social nodes, and coordinated planning across departments.
Railway Capacity Expansion Projects
Two major railway multi tracking projects were examined during the meeting.
The first proposal involves the construction of a third railway line between Jalandhar Cantt and Jammu Tawi, covering a total length of 210.75 kilometres across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The alignment will pass through key districts including Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kangra, Pathankot, Kathua and Samba. The project is expected to increase line capacity, ease congestion, improve train operations and strengthen connectivity in the region. The corridor is also considered strategically important.
The second proposal pertains to a third railway line between Manikpur and Itarsi, spanning 518.532 kilometres across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The route traverses districts such as Chitrakoot, Satna, Maihar, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur and Narmadapuram. The project aims to reduce bottlenecks, improve punctuality, enhance freight movement and meet growing traffic demand along this important rail corridor.
Greenfield Airport at Doloo, Assam
The Ministry of Civil Aviation presented a proposal for the development of a Greenfield airport at Doloo near Silchar in Assam. The proposed site is located near National Highway 27. The new airport is planned to address capacity limitations at the existing civil enclave and cater to increasing passenger traffic in the region.
The project is expected to enhance regional connectivity and support economic development in the Cachar district and adjoining areas by facilitating trade, tourism and investment.
Surat Metro Extension
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs proposed the extension of Surat Metro Corridor II Phase I from Saroli to the Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor. The elevated extension will cover approximately 4.4 kilometres and include three stations, with provision for two additional stations in the future.
The extension is aimed at strengthening urban mobility in Surat and enabling seamless integration with regional and national transport networks. It is expected to improve passenger convenience and encourage the use of public transport.
The projects reviewed during the meeting are intended to promote coordinated infrastructure planning, enhance multimodal connectivity and support economic growth under the PM GatiShakti framework.
