Ministerial Group Reviews Key Infrastructure Projects Under PM Gati Shakti
On February 12, 2025, a ministerial group convened to assess the progress of five significant infrastructure projects under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The meeting, led by E. Srinivas, Joint Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), focused on developments in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Tripura.
One of the primary projects reviewed was the second phase of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. This phase aims to expand the airport’s capacity to accommodate 4,000 peak-hour passengers and handle six million passengers annually by the fiscal year 2046-47. Planned enhancements include strengthening and extending the runway, constructing additional parking bays, building a multi-level car park, establishing a fire station, erecting a new Air Traffic Control tower, and improving city-side access.
The panel also evaluated the Delhi-Panipat-Karnal Namo Bharat Project, a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor designed to reduce travel time between Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi and Karnal in Haryana to approximately 90 minutes, down from the current 3.5 to 4 hours. This corridor will connect Delhi with key urban centers in northern NCR and Haryana, facilitating access to economic hubs such as the Rajiv Gandhi Education City in Sonipat, the Barhi Industrial Area, the industrial hub of Panipat, and the Indian Oil Refinery. The RRTS line is planned to integrate with existing and upcoming Delhi Metro stations at Sarai Kale Khan, Indraprastha, Kashmere Gate, Burari Crossing, and Kundli, as well as interstate bus terminals and the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station.
Additionally, the group assessed Pune Metro Line 4, which will connect Kharadi to Khadakwasla with a spur line from Nal Stop to Warje-Manik Baug in Maharashtra. This project is currently in the planning stages and aims to enhance urban mobility in Pune.
Road infrastructure projects were also on the agenda, including the four-laning of the Gudebellur–Marikal–Hasnapur/Potulamadugu section of National Highway 167 in Telangana. Located in the Narayanpet and Mahabubnagar districts, this project seeks to upgrade and realign the existing corridor, incorporating bypasses around major towns to a four-lane configuration over a design length of 90.37 kilometers. As a key component of the Hyderabad–Panaji Economic Corridor, this initiative aims to improve interstate connectivity between Hyderabad and Raichur.
Another road project discussed was the widening of the existing National Highway 08 corridor from Mungiakami to Champaknagar in Tripura. This project includes necessary bypasses and realignments to decongest built-up areas, aiming to enhance transportation efficiency in the region.
The review meeting aimed to identify and address potential challenges that could cause significant delays in these projects, ensuring timely completion and alignment with the objectives of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Launched in 2021, the plan seeks to enhance multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency across India’s economic zones.
