New Delhi, Feb 25 (NationPress) The Indian government has assessed multiple significant infrastructure initiatives from the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and Ministry of Civil Aviation. These projects are anticipated to enhance logistics efficiency, minimize travel duration, and provide substantial socio-economic advantages to the project areas, as announced this Wednesday.

The 109th session of the Network Planning Group (NPG) convened at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to review these infrastructure ventures.

As per the Commerce Ministry, the meeting emphasized improving multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency in accordance with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP).

The NPG assessed two railway projects, one metro initiative, and one airport development to ensure they align with the PM GatiShakti principles of integrated multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity to economic and social hubs, and a 'Whole of Government' approach, according to the official statement.

The Ministry of Railways has put forth a proposal for a third railway line linking Jalandhar Cantt and Jammu Tawi, spanning a total distance of 210.750 km across the states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.

This proposed route will encompass 27 stations and pass through critical districts such as Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kangra, Pathankot, Kathua, and Samba.

It holds considerable strategic, economic, and social importance. This infrastructure will serve as a vital asset for national defense by enabling quicker and more reliable transport of defense personnel, equipment, and supplies to border areas.

“From an economic standpoint, the initiative will boost trade and commerce by streamlining the transportation of agricultural products, construction materials, and essential goods,” stated the ministry.

The Railways Ministry also proposed the establishment of a third railway line connecting Manikpur and Itarsi, which will cover a distance of 518.532 km through the States of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

This alignment crosses key districts, including Chitrakoot, Satna, Maihar, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, and Narmadapuram, thereby enhancing rail connectivity along a vital corridor linking northern and central India.

This project is expected to significantly increase operational capacity, enhance network resilience, and enable the introduction of more train services to accommodate rising traffic demands and alleviate congestion.

Additionally, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has recommended the development of a Greenfield Airport at Doloo, Silchar in Assam, strategically located next to National Highway NH-27.

Upon its completion, this airport is predicted to serve as a pivotal catalyst for socio-economic growth in Cachar district and adjacent regions.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has proposed an extension of the Surat Metro Corridor II (Phase I) from Saroli to the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridor in Gujarat.

The 4.4-km elevated extension features three stations, with plans for two additional future stations, aimed at enhancing urban mobility while strengthening Surat's connection to regional and national transport systems.