PM GatiShakti Reviews New Railway Lines, Silchar Greenfield Airport and Surat Metro Extension for Multimodal Connectivity Boost

New Delhi: The 109th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG), convened under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, evaluated four major infrastructure projects spanning railways, civil aviation and urban metro connectivity, reinforcing the Centre’s push for integrated and multimodal growth.

Review meeting held at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the meeting reviewed two railway line expansions, a greenfield airport in Assam and a metro extension in Gujarat.

The projects were assessed for alignment with PM GatiShakti principles, including seamless multimodal integration, last-mile connectivity to economic hubs, and logistics efficiency.

Third Railway Line Between Jalandhar Cantt and Jammu Tawi

One of the key proposals examined was the construction of a third railway line between Jalandhar Cantonment railway station and Jammu Tawi railway station, covering 210.750 km across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

The alignment will pass through 27 stations across districts such as Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kangra, Pathankot, Kathua and Samba.

The corridor is strategically significant, facilitating faster movement of defence personnel and equipment to sensitive border regions.

Economically, the enhanced capacity is expected to improve freight operations, enabling smoother transportation of agricultural produce, construction materials and essential commodities across the northern belt.

By reducing congestion and improving reliability, the project aims to strengthen both national security logistics and regional trade networks.

Manikpur–Itarsi Third Line to Ease Central India Congestion

The NPG also evaluated a proposed third railway line between Manikpur Junction railway station and Itarsi Junction railway station, stretching 518.532 km across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh under the Jabalpur division.

The corridor traverses key districts including Chitrakoot, Satna, Maihar, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur and Narmadapuram. As a vital link between northern and central India, this route handles significant passenger and freight traffic.

Capacity augmentation is expected to address rising demand, reduce delays and allow introduction of additional train services. The project will also support industrial clusters, goods sheds and tourism destinations along the corridor, strengthening regional economic integration.

Greenfield Airport at Doloo, Silchar

In a major boost to Northeast connectivity, the Ministry of Civil Aviation proposed a greenfield airport at Doloo in Silchar, Assam, located near National Highway 27. The new facility is intended to ease capacity constraints at the existing civil enclave and meet rising air traffic demand.

Situated in Cachar district, the proposed airport is expected to catalyse socio-economic development across southern Assam and adjoining areas. Improved air connectivity could spur growth in trade, tourism, logistics and hospitality, while enhancing access for businesses and residents.

By integrating the airport with highway networks under the PM GatiShakti framework, planners aim to ensure seamless multimodal connectivity and efficient cargo and passenger movement.

Surat Metro Extension to Connect With Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail

Urban mobility also featured prominently in the 109th NPG meeting. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs proposed extending Surat Metro Corridor II Phase I from Saroli to the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor in Gujarat.

The 4.4-km elevated extension will include three stations, with provisions for two future stations. Designed as a dedicated feeder to the high-speed rail corridor, the project integrates metro services with HSR access, feeder buses and non-motorised transport infrastructure.

This seamless metro–HSR linkage is expected to improve passenger convenience, encourage modal shift from private vehicles and enhance sustainability in Surat’s urban transport ecosystem.

Advancing Integrated Infrastructure Under PM GatiShakti

Collectively, the four projects reflect India’s broader strategy to develop a future-ready, interconnected infrastructure network under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. By leveraging GIS-based planning tools and inter-ministerial coordination, the framework seeks to reduce logistics costs, optimise asset utilisation and accelerate project execution.

The 109th NPG meeting underscores the government’s “Whole of Government” approach, aligning rail, air and urban transport infrastructure with economic corridors and social nodes.