The Network Planning Group (NPG) held its 101st meeting to evaluate road and railway infrastructure proposals aimed at enhancing multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) proposed various projects including upgrading the Ghori–Palghar stretch to improve access to industrial hubs and enhancing interstate connectivity through a new two-lane highway and a widened Deshgaon–Julwaniya stretch. These initiatives are expected to reduce travel time and congestion while boosting economic growth in the regions involved. In the railway sector, the Ministry of Railways (MoR) plans to augment capacity.
The recent meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) marks a significant catalyst in India’s infrastructure journey, particularly in how roads and railways are being mapped to fit the broader narrative of seamless, multimodal connectivity. Under the umbrella of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMG NMP), the NPG’s deliberations on key road and rail projects indicate a growing emphasis on integration not just of transport modes, but of economies, regions and supply-chains. The NPG’s 101st meeting evaluated projects from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and the Ministry of Railways (MoR) for their alignment with GatiShakti principles: integrated multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity to economic/social nodes, and a ‘whole-of-government’ approach.
Western Coastal Ports, Bypassing
From a road-transport perspective, one of the standout projects under review is the rehabilitation and upgradation of the 154.635-km stretch of NH-160A from Ghoti to Palghar in Maharashtra. The corridor links the industrial hubs around Nashik (Ambad, Satpur) with western coastal ports, bypassing the urban chokepoints in Nashik city and providing a streamlined alternate freight route The strategic value is clear: improved access to the Nashik Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP), better flow of perishables via efficient cold-chains, and elevated tourism prospects for regions such as Trimbak, Jawhar and Palghar In a related initiative, MoRTH has also proposed
The development of a 2-lane highway with paved shoulders from Higareda to Basinda–Roshni, and the widening to four lanes of the Deshgaon Julwaniya stretch across Madhya Pradesh (covering roughly 300 km). This corridor is designed to provide a shorter link between Nagpur and Vadodara, and strengthen connectivity to industrial zones and power-station nodes in Central and Western India On the rail side, the NPG reviewed proposals such as adding a third and fourth track along the 56-km Gamharia–Chandil section. This stretch is currently operating at more than 130 % utilisation and carries heavy freight iron-ore, raw materials to major steel-plants in eastern.
India Another key rail proposal is the construction of a fourth line along the 81.2-km Sainthia–Pakur route, identified as an “Energy Corridor” serving power-plants, cement factories and mining clusters across eastern India. The focus here is on shifting freight flows from congested roads to more efficient rail corridors, improving punctuality and operational reliability What distinguishes this review process is not only the size of the corridors, but the manner in which the projects are being appraised: under the integrated lines of PM GatiShakti, where infrastructure is not built siloed but as part of a larger ecosystem linking logistics parks, ports, railway heads.
Serve MSMEs In Palghar Jawhar
Industrial hubs and hinterlands. The NPG emphasised that last-mile connectivity the often forgotten link between main arterial infrastructure and local economic nodes is as crucial as the major corridors themselves The Nashik-Palghar highway’s value lies as much in its ability to serve MSMEs in Palghar, Jawhar and Trimbak, and boost coastal tourism, as in enabling large-scale freight movement. Similarly, the rail expansion in the eastern corridor is not just about moving raw materials, but also about giving a leg-up to agricultural zones, improving market access for farmers, and supporting tourism access in areas like Rajgir, Bodh Gaya and Nalanda in Bihar (as referenced in other project reviews.
A logistics and economic perspective, these projects serve multiple purposes. First, they reduce travel times and ease congestion. With better highways and more rail capacity, freight movement becomes faster and more reliable, reducing cost burdens on industry and allowing for leaner supply-chains. The NPG explicitly notes that reduced travel and transportation costs are among the major expected benefits these projects support regional economic growth not just in metro or coastal hubs, but in central, western and eastern India. The corridor stretching across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan is an example of inter-state connectivity.
Aimed at balanced regional development rather than concentrated development Third, by focusing on multi-modal links, the government seeks to shift more freight from road to rail a sustainable transport objective which can reduce emissions, degrade less road infrastructure, and (Road) free up highways for passenger traffic. The rail line expansions in energy/freight corridors directly support this modal redistribution. And since the road projects link with major ports and logistics parks (such as the Nashik MMLP), the ecosystem becomes more efficient In terms of implementation, what makes these projects noteworthy is their “whole-of-government” dimension. Project appraisal is no longer limited to.
Directly Support This Modal Redistribution
One ministry; instead, roads, railways, ports, logistics parks, and regional development are being seen in a coordinated fashion. This change in approach is at the heart of PM GatiShakti’s ethos That said, the task ahead is significant. The real challenge lies in timely execution, seamless land-acquisition, inter-agency coordination, and ensuring that planned last-mile links are robustly built and maintained. Delays, regulatory hurdles and cost overruns remain perennial obstacles in Indian infrastructure. But the NPG’s reviews signal that the government is placing greater emphasis on these coordination and integration challenges For stakeholders private industry.
MSMEs, logistics providers, regional governments and citizens this wave of infrastructure developments holds promise. Industries can expect lower logistics costs, faster access to ports, expanded markets for perishable goods via improved cold-chains, and enhanced reliability of freight movement. Rural and semi-urban regions stand to benefit from improved connectivity, increased tourism inflows, better market access for agriculture and growth of local enterprises the NPG’s recent review of key road and rail projects launches a vital phase in India’s connectivity story. It’s not just about helping vehicles go faster, but about weaving together road-networks, rail-lines, logistics.
Nodes and economic clusters into a coherent fabric where movement, trade, growth and regional balance reinforce each other. As these projects move from appraisal to action, what will matter is how effectively the last-mile links, inter-modal junctions and operational (PressReles) efficiencies are executed. The alignment of multiple development threads under the umbrella of PM GatiShakti provides the strategic framework; the real success will depend on front-line delivery. The review is a strong stepping-stone; now the journey of execution begins.
Q1. What is the role of the NPG in reviewing infrastructure projects?
The Network Planning Group (NPG) functions under the broader framework of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and evaluates key infrastructure proposals particularly in roads, highways and railways to ensure integrated planning, last-mile connectivity and multi-modal transport alignment.
Q2. Which major road projects were reviewed by the NPG recently?
Among the major road projects reviewed were the upgradation of the 154.6 km stretch of NH-160A from Ghoti to Palghar in Maharashtra, which links Nashik’s industrial hubs with western coastal ports.
Q3. What rail projects are part of the NPG review and why are they important?
The review included proposals such as adding a third and fourth track on the 56 km Gamharia Chandel section and the 81.2 km Sainthia Pakur “Energy Corridor” These are important for de-congesting freight corridors, supporting heavy-industry supply chains, and enabling modal shift from road to rail.
Q4. How will these projects impact logistics and connectivity in India?
By aligning road and rail projects under the PM GatiShakti framework, the expected outcomes include reduced travel times, improved freight movement, relief of urban congestion, stronger links between industrial clusters and ports, and socio-economic uplift in regional areas.
Q5. How do these infrastructure moves support regional development and last-mile connectivity?
The NPG emphasises not just the main corridors but also the last-mile links to economic and social hubs, supporting tourism, MSMEs, cold-chain for perishables, and balanced development across states. For example the Nashik–Palghar project supports tourism in Trimbak, Jawhar and Palghar.
