Big Road Projects in India: Meeting Led by Rajeev Singh Thakur
The 78th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM Gati Shakti initiative was held in New Delhi to assess eighteen crucial road infrastructure projects. The meeting was led by Rajeev Singh Thakur, the additional secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Key Projects Evaluated
The meeting focused on evaluating road projects proposed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) across various states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Bihar. These projects align with the principles of integrated planning outlined in the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP).
Madurai-Kollam ICR
This 4-lane corridor spans 129.92 km, with 68.30 km in Tamil Nadu and 61.62 km in Kerala. It aims to reduce travel distance by 10 km and double the average speed, significantly boosting freight movement and reducing travel times.
Madurai-Dhanushkodi Highway
This 46.67 km 4-lane stretch focuses on improving connectivity to major religious and tourist destinations, enhancing economic activities in the region.
Other Projects
Other evaluated projects include the Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry Corridor, Thoppur Ghat Section, Belagavi Ring Road, Tumkur Bypass, Bhopal-Sagar Economic Corridor, Western Bypass of Gwalior City, Ayodhya Nagar Bypass, Ahmednagar-Solapur Corridor, Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur Corridor, Jagtial-Karimnagar Highways, Armoor-Jagtial-Mancherial Highway, Badvel-Nellore Corridor, Sambalpur Ring Road, and Bakarpur-Manikpur-Sahebgunj-Areraj-Bettiah Highway.
These projects aim to reduce congestion, improve urban mobility, and bolster regional industries and tourism. They are anticipated to play pivotal roles in nation-building by integrating various modes of transport and providing substantial socio-economic benefits.
Doubts Revealed
Rajeev Singh Thakur -: Rajeev Singh Thakur is a person who is leading the meeting about road projects in India. He is an important official in the government.
Network Planning Group (NPG) -: The Network Planning Group (NPG) is a team of people who plan and decide on big projects like building roads and other important things in the country.
PM Gati Shakti -: PM Gati Shakti is a big plan started by the Prime Minister of India to make transportation and other infrastructure better and faster in the country.
New Delhi -: New Delhi is the capital city of India where important meetings and decisions are often made.
Madurai-Kollam ICR -: Madurai-Kollam ICR is a road project that will connect the cities of Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Kollam in Kerala, making travel easier between these places.
Madurai-Dhanushkodi Highway -: The Madurai-Dhanushkodi Highway is another road project that will connect Madurai to Dhanushkodi, a town in Tamil Nadu, to improve travel and trade.
Tamil Nadu -: Tamil Nadu is a state in the southern part of India.
Kerala -: Kerala is another state in the southern part of India, known for its beautiful backwaters and greenery.
Karnataka -: Karnataka is also a state in the southern part of India, famous for its technology hub, Bengaluru.
Economic activities -: Economic activities are things people do to make money, like businesses, trade, and jobs.
National Master Plan -: The National Master Plan is a big plan made by the government to improve the country’s infrastructure, like roads, railways, and airports, to make everything work better and faster.
