The Network Planning Group (NPG) has reviewed seven major road infrastructure projects of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to strengthen multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.
Officials said the evaluated projects are expected to significantly reduce travel time, improve freight movement, and generate socio-economic benefits across multiple regions.
Salem–Kumarapalayam Six-Lane Corridor
One of the key projects reviewed was the six-laning of the Salem–Kumarapalayam section of NH-544 in Tamil Nadu, spanning over 102 km. The corridor lies along the high-density Kochi–Coimbatore–Bengaluru freight and passenger route.
The project includes service roads, upgraded junctions, grade separators, bridges, flyovers, and road-over-bridges. It is expected to enhance connectivity to industrial clusters, SEZs, logistics parks, and freight terminals, benefiting sectors such as textiles, manufacturing, and agri-processing.
Amaravati Outer Ring Road
The proposed 189.93 km Amaravati Outer Ring Road in Andhra Pradesh was also evaluated. Designed as a greenfield project, the ORR aims to decongest urban areas and improve connectivity across the Amaravati capital region, including Vijayawada, Guntur, and Tenali.
The corridor will integrate with National Waterway-4 and connect ports such as Machilipatnam and Krishnapatnam. It is expected to reduce travel time by up to 40 percent, lower fuel consumption, and cut vehicular emissions.
Strategic Roads in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
In Jammu and Kashmir, the NPG reviewed the proposal to widen and strengthen the 62.10 km Rafiabad–Kupwara–Chowkibal–Tangdhar road. The project will enhance connectivity in border areas, improve access to villages along the Line of Control, and support defence logistics.
Similarly, the proposed Leh Bypass project in Ladakh will link NH-01 and NH-03, diverting traffic away from Leh city. Improved access to Leh Airport and industrial estates is expected to boost trade, tourism, and regional development.
Chitrakoot–Satna and Rourkela–Sithiyo Corridors
The widening of the Chitrakoot–Majhgawan–Satna corridor into a four-lane highway across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh aims to strengthen inter-state connectivity. The project will support industrial freight, particularly from cement plants in the Satna region, and improve access to religious tourism destinations.
The four-lane greenfield highway from Rourkela to Sithiyo, spanning Odisha and Jharkhand, will connect economic nodes such as SEZs and logistics hubs. It will also integrate with major national corridors and the Asian Highway network.
Patna Ring Road Segment
The NPG also evaluated the six-lane greenfield Patna Ring Road section from Kanhauli to Sherpur in Bihar. The project will help decongest Patna city and improve access to NH-30, NH-922, rail stations, and the upcoming Bihta Airport.
Enhanced connectivity to logistics and industrial hubs in the Bihta region is expected to drive economic growth in the Patna metropolitan area.
Boost to Multimodal Logistics
Collectively, the reviewed projects are aligned with the PM GatiShakti vision of integrated planning and seamless connectivity across transport modes. By improving road-rail-air-port linkages, the initiatives aim to lower logistics costs and enhance India’s infrastructure competitiveness.
