By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The 74th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under PM GatiShakti was convened in New Delhi under the chairpersonship of Additional Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur. The meeting focused on evaluating five significant infrastructure projects from the Ministry of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). These projects were assessed for their alignment with the principles of integrated planning outlined in the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP).
Balaram – Tentuloi New Railway Line (MCRL Phase II) in Odisha: This greenfield project involves the construction of a 49.58 km rail line at an estimated cost of INR 1,404 Crores in Angul district to provide vital first-mile rail connectivity for 11 coal blocks. It aims to reduce logistics costs for industries and generate employment, thus contributing to regional development. The project is expected to significantly enhance the transport efficiency of coal, benefiting both the local economy and the broader industrial landscape of the state of Odisha.
Budhapank – Luburi New Railway Line (MCRL Outer Corridor) in Odisha : Spanning 106 kilometres, this greenfield rail line at an estimated project cost of INR 3,478 Crores will support efficient coal evacuation from the Mahanadi River Basin. The proposed alignment facilitates the transportation of coal from Talcher Coal Fields, providing first-mile rail connectivity to 21 coal blocks reducing the average distance to rail head from 43 km to 4.2 km enhancing logistical efficiency and reducing costs for core industries like iron and steel.
